Moulin Rouge – The Musical at Al Hirschfeld Theatre

Set in the cultural period during the late 19th century, Moulin Rouge! The Musical was heavily inspired by French history. The musical takes places and is focused on retelling the dealings of an actual nightclub in Montmartre, Paris, named the Moulin Rouge, where the can-can dance was born. By the late 1900s, Moulin Rouge became famous for its French Cabaret cultural aspect – ecstatic, free-spirited, and a somewhat crazy lifestyle. This Parisian entertainment venue that the staging was based on also influenced the production, with Baz Luhrmann and the Broadway play's team mentioning that they did directly borrow from the late 1900s time period, and it can decisively be viewed in the show. The decor, clothing, musical arrangements, and choreography (which sees a lot of can-can dance) all obviously are a clear inspiration from to the 2001 adaptation of Moulin Rouge.

It is in this period of history leading up to the 1900s and during the peak of the French La Belle Époque, a period thought to be the peak of high artistic and cultural development, where the forbidden affair of two lovers finally begins. Christian, an American writer who journeys to France searching for a successful calling, meets Satine, the top entertainer of the Moulin Rouge. The pair, despite the imminent danger of their relationship, fall madly in love and have to be a secret affair with each other caused by their uncontrollable feelings.

Ironically, the time of La Belle Époque was denounced by even locals not as a period of advancement or development. Some people are of the opinion that these years were all about rising tension beneath the surface. Moulin Rouge! The Musical, however, chose to capture the decade in a more positive perspective by highlighting the romantic Bohemian values of truth, beauty, freedom, and love, as witnessed through Christian and Satine’s evolving love story throughout the show.

In this decade, theatre fans have the chance to relive the entertainment most likely also reveled in by the original patrons of the Moulin Rouge, as Moulin Rouge! The Musical will be performing at an equally lively and impressive venue, Al Hirschfeld Theatre. With interior decor just as dazzling as the set that it is hosting, Al Hirschfeld Theatre is the ideal fit for Moulin Rouge’s limited production on Monday 30th December 2024. Tickets are now available for purchase through the links that can be found at the top of this site.