Moulin Rouge! The Musical, based on the Academy Award-winning Baz Luhrmann film of the same name, will transfer to the West End, with performances at the Piccadilly Theatre from Autumn 2021. Following its run on Broadway, which unveiled the jukebox musical's eclectic pop score with songs by the likes of Madonna, Lady Gaga, Elton John and more, excitement is building for the West End production to land in London. Tickets for Moulin Rouge! The Musical will go on sale next year.
Set in the Montmartre Quarter in Paris, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a luxurious, indulgent musical that's been hailed as one of the most anticipated shows of the century. As a lovesick writer named Christian takes his seat inside the Moulin Rouge, he's greeted by Satine. With a dazzling smile and an inviting manner, their lives collide in epic fashion as they grow closer together in an extravagant world where anything goes.
But while the show may wind back the years to a hedonistic age in the famed Parisian cabaret bar, the score is a modern concoction of pop hits. From the films iconic classics like Elton John's "Your Song" and Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy", it also fuses contemporary classics in the famous "Elephant Love Medley", which seamlessly incorporates over 20 songs by the likes of The Beatles, U2, Elvis, Dolly Parton, Queen and more into a single euphoric moment of theatre.
Luhrmann's original film premiered in 2001, and starred Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor in the roles of Satine and Christian respectively. The third film in the filmmaker's 'Red Curtain' trilogy, which also included Strictly Ballroom and Romeo + Juliet. the former of which has also appeared on stage as a musical, it was nominated for nine Academy Awards, and was the first musical in 10 years to receive a nomination for the award for best picture.
There had been speculation as early as 2002 that a stage version of the musical was set to be mounted, and even rumours later in the decade that Luhrmann had approached McGregor and Kidman to star in the show, but what would have been a monumental casting never came to fruition. It took as long as 2017 for a first workshop to take place, with director Alex Timbers joining the project with book writer John Logan, known for his play Red and writing the James Bond film Skyfall.
The pre-Broadway world premiere engagement of Moulin Rouge! The Musical wowed audiences at Boston's Emerson Colonial Theatre for a limited engagement from 27th June to 19th August 2018. After a Boston tryout, Moulin Rouge! packed up its bags and headed to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, officially opening on 25th July 2019. The Broadway cast stars Aaron Tveit as Christian and Karen Olivo as Satine, with Danny Burstein in the role of Harold Zidler, the Moulin Rouge's host.
In a review for New York Theatre Guide, Mark Shenton said: "Moulin Rouge is a show that has it all: it's not just 70 songs that are rolled into one show, but also a canvas of spectacle and emotion that isn't just a floorshow but left me floored with its sublime artistry." To find out what other critics thought of the musical, read our Broadway review round-up.
Listen to the Moulin Rouge! The Musical cast recording
Following its riotous opening on Broadway, an original cast recording was produced and released, featuring the musical's biggest moments. To get a taste of Moulin Rouge! before the musical opens in the West End, give the playlist below a listen.
