Let’s travel back to 2001 for just a moment. Play this in the background to get you in the mood:
Whether you loved it as a starry-eyed teenager or you just appreciated the unique musical, it’s tough to argue that Baz Luhrmann‘s Moulin Rouge! isn’t beautiful and inspiring. With all that going for it, Moulin Rouge! seemed a natural story to translate to the stage. After over a decade of waiting, it seems that Moulin Rouge! is officially being adapted for the stage. As Mashable reports, John Logan (Skyfall and Gladiator) is writing the stage adaptation, and Alex Timbers (Peter and the Starcatcher) is directing. Timbers also has a flair for unique and visually stunning staging, so he’s a natural to be heading up the Moulin Rouge! stage show. Timbers should be able to translate Luhrmann’s ostentatious staging perfectly into a live theatre setting. Since the stage production is still in its infancy, there is no news yet on cast, venue, or premiere dates. However, it’s very exciting to see this unique musical enter into the lives of a new generation of Moulin Rouge! fans.
Most of us remember when Moulin Rouge! hit theaters, because it ushered in an era when cinematic musicals started making a comeback. Whether you just loved the film’s updated version of “Lady Marmalade” featuring the likes of Pink, Christina Aguilera, and Lil’ Kim, or if you memorized the entire film’s soundtrack, that movie made quite an impact on a lot of us back in ’01. The set was gaudy, big, and beautiful, the songs were unique takes on favorites from the likes of Nirvana, The Police, and David Bowie, and the story was tragically romantic. Seriously, how many of us had the line “the greatest thing you’ll ever learn is to love and be loved in return” on our AIM profiles? Just me? Okay.
Are you excited about a Moulin Rouge! theatrical production, or do you think it’s better suited for movies? Who would you like to see play Satine and Christian in the stage production? Let’s talk in the comments!
Featured Image: 20th Century Fox
