PROVIDENCE — “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” based on Baz Luhrmann’s iconic film about a nightclub in turn-of-the-century Paris, arrives at the Providence Performing Arts Center next week.
The show marks the first North American tour of the play that opened to critical acclaim at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in the Summer of 2019 then reopened in September 2021 following the shutdown of Broadway due to the pandemic.
“Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” which runs from from Dec. 19-31, won a total of 10 2021 Tony Awards, including “Best Musical.”
The play, which centers on the romance between Christian, who is new to Paris, and Satine, a cabaret performer and star of the Moulin Rouge, features dozens of pop songs, from 1980s Tina Turner to 2008 Beyoncé.
It brings Luhrmann’s film to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Described as a “theatrical celebration of truth, beauty, freedom, and — above all — love,” “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is “more than a musical; it is a state of mind,” according to organizers.
As in the film, “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” celebrates more than 160 years of music — from Offenbach to Lady Gaga — and features many of the iconic songs from the movie, including recent hits released since the movie premiered 22 years ago.
The Moulin Rouge of Paris, managed by Jean-Jacques Clerico, is a dazzling and spectacular universe and 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 theater where numerous famous French and international artists stepped out into the limelight.
Today, the Moulin Rouge and its 60 artists 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.
The musical earned two Drama League Awards including Outstanding Production of a Musical, five Drama Desk Awards and ten Outer Critics Circle Award Honor citations including New Broadway Musical.
“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is produced by Carmen Pavlovic, directed by Tony Award-winner Alex Timbers and with a book by Tony Award-winner John Logan, choreography by Tony Award-winner Sonya Tayeh and music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Tony Award-winner Justin Levine.
The design team includes Derek McLane, sets; Catherine Zuber, costumes; Justin Townsend, lighting; Peter Hylenski, sound; David Brian Brown, wig and hair design; Sarah Cimino, make-up design and Matt Stine, music producer.
— Nancy Burns-Fusaro