ARTS & CULTURE
By Kaydith Maddox | Photos courtesy of Walton Arts Center
Discover the Moulin Rouge! State of Mind
Show Dates & Times
July 8 at 7 p.m.
July 9 at 1:30 and 7 p.m.
July 10 at 8 p.m.
July 11 at 2 and 8 p.m.
July 12 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory — a world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment! Pop the champagne and prepare for the spectacular. Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical, coming to Walton Arts Center on July 8-12.
“Spectacular! Euphoric! In Moulin Rouge! The Musical, life is beautiful,” The New York Times said.
“Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a fabulous new musical. The high begins the instant you walk into the theater,” according to the New York Post.
Critics agree; Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the winner of 10 2021 Tony Awards including best musical, two Drama League Awards including outstanding production of a musical, five Drama Desk Awards and 10 Outer Critics Circle Award Honor citations.
Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of truth, beauty, freedom and — above all — love. With a book by Tony winner John Logan, music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Tony winner Justin Levine and choreography by Tony winner Sonya Tayeh, Moulin Rouge! is more than a musical — it is a state of mind.
As in the film, Moulin Rouge! The Musical celebrates more than 160 years of music — from Offenbach to Lady Gaga. The stage musical features many of the iconic songs from the movie and also includes recent hits released since the movie premiered 21 years ago.
Many elements of the stage production are inspired by real people and places from a bygone era of France. The real-life Moulin Rouge of Paris, managed by Jean-Jacques Clerico, is a dazzling and spectacular universe, the 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 ‘20s, 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 amazing 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.
Immerse yourself in the Moulin Rouge lifestyle and shake up your night at the theater with a hands-on cocktail class before your performance. Stir up your creativity and toast to a night of delightful discovery! Purchase a cocktail class for $45, and experts will teach you how to make two specialty drinks while you enjoy light appetizers and learn about each delicious cocktail and its ingredients. Join a class at 5:30 p.m. on July 9 or at 6:30 p.m. on July 10 and 11.
Tickets start at $59.80 and are available for purchase by visiting www.waltonartscenter.org, by calling (479) 443-5600 weekdays 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. or in person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.