Moulin Rouge! The Musical to open in London in March 2021
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
GLOBAL Creatures, the producers of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, have announced that the first UK production of the acclaimed show will open at London’s Piccadilly Theatre in March 2021.
Producer Carmen Pavlovic, Global Creatures, said: “After ten years in development, and following the fantastic response to Moulin Rouge! The Musical in New York, we are thrilled to be sharing this musical with audiences in the UK. We can’t wait to bring the show to London!”
Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Pop the champagne and prepare for the spectacular spectacular…Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of truth, beauty, freedom, and — above all — love.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical has a book by John Logan (Tony Award for Red, three-time Academy Award nominee, including for Gladiator and The Aviator), choreography by Sonya Tayeh (Lucille Lortel Award and Obie Award for Kung Fu, and Emmy winner), and music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Justin Levine (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson).
Moulin Rouge! The Musical is directed by Alex Timbers, whose credits include Here Lies Love at the National Theatre. He was Tony Award nominated for Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and Peter and the Starcatcher).
The production has set design by Tony Award- winner Derek McLane (Beautiful – The Carole King Musical), costume design by Tony Award- winner Catherine Zuber (The King and I for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Costume Design), lighting by two-time Tony Award nominee Justin Townsend, sound by Peter Hylenski, wig and hair design by Drama Desk Award-winner David Brian Brown (Come From Away) and make-up design by Sarah Cimino. Casting is by Pippa Ailion.
Casting for the London production will be announced in due course.
The musical, which features a lavish, immersive set, follows aspiring writer Christian and dancer Satine as they fall in love. But pressure mounts on Satine as her boss, Moulin Rouge owner Harold Zidler, relies on her to appease the Duke of Monroth, whose money will keep the establishment running.
As in the film, Moulin Rouge! The Musical celebrates some of the greatest popular music of the last 50 years. The stage musical features many of the iconic songs from the movie and also includes recent hits released since the movie premiered 18 years ago.
The Moulin Rouge! The Musical original Broadway Cast Album, which debuted #1 on Billboard’s Cast Albums Chart, is available at all digital and streaming providers by Baz Luhrmann’s label, House of Iona, and RCA Records. Click here to listen to the album. A physical edition of the album will be made available on October 25, 2019.
Released by 20th Century Fox, Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!, starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, premiered at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. At the 74th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture, and won two.
The Moulin Rouge of Paris, managed by Jean-Jacques Clerico (CEO), is a dazzling and spectacular universe, the symbol of the Parisian way of celebrating since 1889. Starting life as a popular cabaret and dance hall, the venue became an iconic music hall in the Roaring Twenties, and then a theatre where numerous famous French and international artistes stepped out into the limelight.
Today, the Moulin Rouge and its 60 artistes present the Féerie revue show: two hours of amazement between cabaret and music hall styles where dance scenes and surprise acts intersperse – without forgetting the Moulin Rouge’s most emblematic dance, the French Cancan! Since its creation, the Moulin Rouge of Paris has always been an invitation to live and share all the emotions and effervescence of a unique party extravaganza.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical is currently playing on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre where it opened to widespread critical acclaim on July 25, 2019. Further productions have also been announced for Australia and a North American Tour.
Click here to see the teaser trailer.
Image: (l-r): Jacqueline B. Arnoldas as La Chocolat, Robyn Hurderas as Nini, Holly Jamesas as Arabia and Jeigh Madjusas as Baby Doll. Photo © 2019, Matthew Murphy (Broadway production).