Broadway’s fifth-anniversary performance of “Moulin Rouge!” didn’t go exactly as planned. A technical problem with the set delayed the July 25 curtain by about 45 minutes and required certain crucial scenes to be staged further upstage than usual. During intermission, a prominent actor injured his foot, and another performer filled in for Act 2.
But none of that dampened the enthusiasm of the audience, some of whom began lining up two hours before the original 7 p.m. curtain call. Plus, thriving in the face of adversity seems like a signature move for this Broadway musical about bohemians struggling to keep their theater afloat.
Just nine months after the blockbuster “Moulin Rouge!” opened on July 25, 2019, the pandemic shut down the show along with the rest of the theater industry. And yet, since reopening in September 2021, the musical has expanded worldwide at a prodigious pace, winning the 2021 Tony Award for best musical and launching nine international productions, with five (including Broadway and West End) currently running, a Dutch production opening in September, and a world tour launching in Edinburgh in April. To date, “Moulin Rouge!” has sold 8 million tickets worldwide across some 5,500 performances.
A robust international life was always part of the plan, fueled by global interest in the title and the popularity of Baz Luhrmann’s audacious 2001 film. Just as those preparations were ramping up, the pandemic hit to derail the proceedings. That’s when Sydney-based production company Global Creatures got to work, dealing with supply chain issues and holding auditions over Zoom to ensure a quick restart.
“We were aware of the potential that ‘Moulin Rouge!’ could have around the world to help regenerate businesses,” says Carmen Pavlovic, CEO of Global Creatures. “We could employ a lot of people and help a lot of artisanal businesses get back on their feet. I felt that ‘Moulin Rouge!’ really had something to contribute.”
Meanwhile, the show’s marketing team worked overtime to keep fans engaged through pro-shot performance clips and behind-the-scenes content. At the sold-out anniversary performance, faithful were rewarded with a tote bag and poster at every seat and a curtain call from Aaron Tveit, the show’s original Tony-winning star, who returned to the production that week.
“This show means a lot to me, as you can imagine — because I keep finding myself on this stage,” he told them.
from Tampopo https://ift.tt/e547Hvw
