Musical: MAKING A STAGE SPECTACULAR

By David Cote

In its epoch-hopping score and dazzling visuals, the Tony-winning Moulin Rouge! The Musical represents the missing link from Belle Époque Paris to Broadway today, from operetta to the modern musical. More than 160 years of popular song, from Offenbach to Lady Gaga: That’s the raw material the creative team took and remixed into one thrilling, dramatic voice.

Moulin Rouge! began, of course, as Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin’s groundbreaking 2001 film. Inspired by the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Luhrmann hit upon fin-de-siècle Paris, and the real-life club became the center of a story about a small-town poet named Christian who comes to Paris, joins the Bohemians, and falls in love with Moulin Rouge’s house diva Satine. In this ravishing fable, love conquers all and we witness the importance of living for Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love.

And for the words of its poet? Luhrmann used the lyrics of the greatest pop love songs.

Instantly iconic, the film was a global hit. But would Moulin Rouge! live only on celluloid? Everyone agreed that its mix of glamour and grit made the dance-filled backstage drama perfect for Broadway.

Of course, everything was dependent on fearless producers who could secure rights to dozens of songs that would make up the once-in-a-lifetime score. Carmen Pavlovic and business partner Gerry Ryan were up for it. The Australian-born co-founders of Global Creatures (Walking With Dinosaurs) first met Luhrmann and Martin in 2009, eager to throw their hats in the ring as producers of the stage version.

Knowing that he didn’t want to direct the stage version himself, Luhrmann gave the acclaimed young director Alex Timbers his blessing to re-envision the world. Timbers and the producers quickly assembled a dream team, a cadre of 21st century New Bohemians.

John Logan was appointed to write the book. The award-winning writer had long proved his genius at infusing distant times with contemporary relevance, from imperial Rome (Gladiator) to gothic Victoriana (Penny Dreadful).

As music supervisor, Timbers needed someone to curate and weave together pop hits of the past decade and more. He chose Justin Levine, a frequent collaborator and song savant whose taste in music bridged centuries.

And to get the world on its feet, bumping and grinding to “Lady Marmalade” or strutting to a Rolling Stones medley, the fearless Sonya Tayeh was picked, a newcomer to Broadway but already an experienced choreographer who had designed steps for Madonna, Kylie Minogue, and Miley Cyrus.

Now you’re a part of the movement. An absinthe-streaked love letter to Broadway fans, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is aimed at an audience eager for mythic pop spectacle, for more passion, more glamour, more everything. All are welcome at this club.

David Cote is the author of the Moulin Rouge! The Musical: The Story of the Broadway Spectacular (Rizzoli). David is a New Yorkbased theater and TV critic who writes for The A.V. Club, Observer, and 4 Columns. He’s also a playwright and opera librettist, and author of books about the making of Spring Awakening, Jersey Boys, and Wicked.