Australian Broadway hit Moulin Rouge coming to Melbourne in 2021

It’s the Australian show taking Broadway by storm, and now the $40 million stage production of Baz Luhrmann’s hit film, Moulin Rouge, is coming to Melbourne’s Regent Theatre.

The Australian show that is the toast of Broadway, Moulin Rouge, is coming to Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in 2021.

The $40 million show is a triumph in one of the toughest theatre markets in the world, Broadway, where it opened last Thursday to rave reviews.

And before opening night of the lavish blockbuster production the Regent Theatre will have completed a major $19.4 million upgrade.

SCROLL DOWN FOR CATHERINE LAMBERT’S BROADWAY REVIEW

Moulin Rouge co-producer Gerry Ryan said hosting the show’s premier was a coup for Melbourne’s theatre scene.

“Melbourne is my home town so we’re going home with Moulin Rouge,” Mr Ryan said.

“The Regent Theatre is so perfect for it and we’re already very excited about going to another city after New York.

“It’s great Australia can produce this and put the people together to make it happen. I’m a very proud Australian and a proud Victorian, particularly at a time like this.”

Tam Matu as The Duke of Monroth in Moulin Rouge. Picture: Matthew Murphy

Broadway hit Moulin Rouge is coming to Melbourne in 2021. Picture: Matthew Murphy

Co-producer Gerry Ryan says bringing the musical to Melbourne is a coup for the city. Picture: Matthew Murphy

The musical is based on Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 hit film and features about 70 popular songs. Luhrmann attended Thursday’s opening night in New York where he said this was acknowledgment of the capability of Australia’s arts scene.

“It shows that we can do anything that can show around the world,” Luhrmann said.

“This piece was conceived in Australia, shot in Australia and is now killing it as a musical in New York. There’s no excuse for our creativity not to be shown anywhere in the world. People know us more for our arts than anything else.”

The Regent Theatre will undergo a $19.4 million upgrade to house the show, with $14.5 million being funded by the State Government.

There will be improvements to seating, the bar and foyer areas, more women’s bathrooms and an extension to the balcony will bring audiences closer to the stage.

State Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley, said Melbourne was already home to the best theatres in Australia.

“This investment ensures that we will continue to attract and host top productions for many years to come — introducing new generations of Victorians to the magic of theatre and live performance.”

Sahr Ngaujah as Toulouse-Lautrec, Aaron Tveit as Christian and Ricky Rojas as Santiago.

Moulin Rouge celebrates bohemian life in 19th century Paris but it is a love story at its heart, between Moulin Rouge performer Satine and budding poet/songwriter Christian.

Co-producer Carmen Pavlovic said the idea to turn the film into a musical began in 2009.

The first hurdle was a lengthy process to secure rights to the huge amount of songs featured in the show, ranging from Elton John’s Your Song to Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance, David Byrne’s Burning Down the House and Crazy by Gnarls Barkley.

“Moulin Rouge is an indelible part of our culture and represents a moment for so many people around the world,” Ms Pavlovic said.

“Baz’ films take a simple story and tell it in a unique way. That is also what we’ve done on stage. We feel the story of a bohemian revolution told in 2001 is so fitting for 2019. The human desire for love is at the heart of it.”

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