Moulin Rouge – The Musical at Al Hirschfeld Theatre

Set in the cultural period during the late 19th century, Moulin Rouge! The Musical was heavily based on French history. The play takes places and is centered around the happenings of true-to-life nightclub in Montmartre, Paris, called the Moulin Rouge, where the patrons come for unadulterated fun. By the late 19th century, the Moulin Rouge nightclub became renowned for its French Cabaret style – ecstatic, full of spirit, and a somewhat crazy lifestyle. This Parisian venue that the musical was created from also impacted the production, with Baz Luhrmann and the show's creators stating that they did take pieces of the actual French time period, and it can undoubtedly be viewed in the production. The set, clothing, music score, and actual performances (which showcases a lot of can-can dance) all evidently are a clear inspiration from to the original Moulin Rouge.

It is in this decade of history leading up to the 1900s and during the peak of France's La Belle Époque, a time pointed to as the height of lasting peace and harmony, where the forbidden tale of two lovers finally begins. Christian, an American writer who travels to France seeking a successful career, meets Satine, the unrivaled performer of the Moulin Rouge. Christian and Satine, despite many oncoming trials and tribulations, fall deeply in love and have to be a hidden relationship with each other caused by their lack of standing and power.

Depending on perspective, the duration of La Belle Époque was denounced by even locals not as a period of cultural and artistic development. Historians are convinced that these years were all about overindulgence and abuse of the rich. Moulin Rouge! The Musical, however, chose to showcase the time period in a more positive light by focusing on the good Bohemian values of truth, beauty, freedom, and love, as witnessed through Christian and Satine’s fight for love throughout the play.

This November, viewers and audiences have the chance to relive the passion most likely also enjoyed by the original patrons of the Moulin Rouge, as Moulin Rouge! The Musical will be performing at an equally vibrant and excellent venue, Al Hirschfeld Theatre. With interior decor just as sprightly as the set that it is hosting, Al Hirschfeld Theatre is the ideal fit for Moulin Rouge’s limited production on Thursday 14th November 2024. Tickets are now available for purchase through the links that can be found at the top of this site.