Quote of the Day: As in the film, Moulin Rouge! The Musical celebrates over 160 years of music – from Offenbach to Lady
Gaga. The stage musical features many of the iconic songs from the movie and also includes recent hits
released since the movie premiered 20 years ago. 
Press release for Moulin Rouge! The Musical 

AWARDS
Ten 2020 Tony Awards:
Best Musical
Best Performance by An Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Aaron Tveit
Best Performance by An Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Danny Burstein
Best Choreography Sanya Tayeh (and Drama Desk winner)
Best Direction of a Musical Alex Timbers
Best Orchestrations Justin Levine, Charlie Rosen and Matt Stine
Best Scenic Design of a Musical Derek McLane (and Drama Desk winner)
Best Costume Design of a Musical Catherine Zuber (and Drama Desk winner)
Best Lighting Design of a Musical Justin Townsend (and Drama Desk winner)
Best Sound Design of a Musical Peter Hylenski (and Drama Desk winner)

Cast of The Moulin Rouge! Photo: Matthew Murphy

The Moulin Rouge! the Musical is a spectacular musical filled with songs from every decade, mashed up or sung as a medley. The choreography is exciting and sultry. The costumes are elaborate and gorgeous, and the set is eye-popping. The actors are so fine in appearance and skills. This show has tremendous entertainment value. I sat mesmerized through most of it. This stage adaptation of the 2001 movie by Baz Luhrmann seemed ripe for the stage, and we were excited to see it produced. This was the third movie in Luhrmann’s “Red Curtain” trilogy, the one that is all about the songs, and my, do they include a tremendous repertoire. Some of the songs are different, a few more recent songs have been added, but the story is the same. 

Cast of The Moulin Rouge! Photo: Matthew Murphy

For the most part, this is a performance that’s all about the music. Think of it as one long musical montage performed live with all the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas, the showgirls, the love triangle, the sexy scenes, the humorous side characters, the club owner willing to do anything to save his business, and the wealthy benefactor who wants to control it all, including the leading lady. You’ve seen it played out in famous shows like La bohème, Cabaret, Rent, and any number of tragic musicals and love stories. But, you’re not going to the Moulin Rouge for the predictable plot. You’re going for the grand show, a feeling of being transported to another time and place, a fantastical place, yet so exciting to experience. Also, you’re going for the mind-blowing performances by this incredibly talented cast. We fell in love with them from the first note!

Conor Ryan and Christian and Courtney Reed as Satine in Moulin Rouge. Photo: Matthew Murphy

Highlights for us included Courtney Reed as Satine. Her grand entrance on the swing was interrupted by a technical delay, but worth the wait (with a sigh of relief), then she shown like the sparkling diamonds she sings about. Conor Ryan is a heartthrob as Christian. His performance built with each song, until he reached a peak during Crazy Rolling in the Deep, when he’s down on his knees in agony over his forbidden love of Satine. André Ward, as Toulouse-Lautrec, sang Nat King Cole’s classic Nature Boy with such sweetness, I had tears in my eyes. The music and dancing throughout most of the show is high-energy, intense, but those few moments where they slow it down with a ballad, melt my heart. We also loved Austin Durant as Harold Zidler. He has such flair. And, David Harris as the Duke of Monroth. The ensemble is spectacular. All the choreography is amazing.

As you can see from the list of Tony winners at the top, this show has a tremendous creative team. The costumes really blew me away, so I have to include this fun fact from the press release: In total, 180 artisans spent 36,019 hours to create the 793 costume pieces including 45 wigs, 12 handmade can-can skirts and corsets, 37 top hats and nine feather headpieces with custom-dyed plumes. They were absolutely stunning. The music is so good and exciting that we listened to it on our drive home, and again this morning before, during, and after writing this review. 

The Moulin Rouge! the Musical, based on the famous Paris night club, brings all the glitz, glamour, joys and sorrows of life to the stage. Celebrating the Bohemian lifestyle of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love. Go, see it if you can at the Orpheum Theater (Hennepin Theater Trust) in Minneapolis, through June 5, 2022, or to a city on their North American Tour. 

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt: What songs get you so excited that you can’t help but tap your feet, get up and dance, or sing along?