‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’ Review: Spendor, Romance, Grandeur, and So Much Satisfying Nostalgia

Moulin Rouge! The Musical has finally made its way to Atlanta! I’ve been eagerly following this production since it was first announced that a stage adaptation of the 2001 Baz Luhrmann-directed film was in the works. As a massive fan of the film, I couldn’t wait to see how the story (and the iconic music) would be interpreted for a stage show. So did it meet my expectations?

Simply put, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the most fun I think I’ve ever had at a stage production. I was smiling ear-to-ear all night as we journeyed down memory lane. It’s the same world of splendor, romance, excess, grandeur, and glory that fans fell in love with in 2001. And it comes to life on stage in the most beautiful and entertaining way.

The Music

Despite my obsession with the film and my excitement for the musical, I kept myself away from earlier reviews and the Broadway soundtrack. I wanted to go into the show without any preconceived notions. So I wasn’t aware that this show is what’s considered a jukebox musical, which is a musical that is mainly comprised of well-known or hit songs. 

That concept of a jukebox musical works really well with Moulin Rouge! The Musical as that’s also what the film did with the reshaping of its songs, including Elton John’s Your Song and Nat King Cole’s Nature Boy. It also works well to bring in some more recent songs like Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance, Sia’s Chandelier, Walk the Moon’s Shut Up and Dance. And that’s barely scratching the surface.

The music here is just so, so good. Aside from the film’s most memorable songs, there are also countless songs or pieces of songs that the audience will recognize (even a few lines from Paula Cole’s I Don’t Want to Wait). The nostalgia is strong here and in the most beautiful way.

The Performances

The performances here are all incredible. And you can tell that the cast is having as much fun as the audience.

Courtney Reed does an enchanting job as Satine, and her vocals make her the perfect female lead to tackle the role. However, it’s John Cardoza as Christian that truly blew my mind. He brought a uniqueness to Christian’s voice that is the best I’ve heard to date (now that I’ve dug into the other actors that have tackled the role on stage). He has an inflection in his voice that is delightfully captivating, and I’m thrilled I got to see him in this role.

The Set Design & Costumes

The set design and costumes are also jaw-dropping here. So much detail, and it all works seamlessly to capture the overall vibe of the original film. There was so much chaos in the movie, and this musical does an excellent job of capturing that and re-interpreting that through its sets, costumes, and musical mashups. 

The design team for Moulin Rouge! The Musical includes Tony Award winner Derek McLane (sets), Tony Award winner Catherine Zuber (costumes), Tony Award winner Justin Townsend (lighting), Tony Award winner Peter Hylenski (sound), Drama Desk Award winner David Brian Brown (wig and hair design), Sarah Cimino (Make-up design) and Tony Award winner Matt Stine (Music Producer). Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Stephen Kopel.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical’s History

Moulin Rouge! The Musical made its premiere on Broadway in the Summer of 2019 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. And it reopened in September 2021 following the Covid-19 shutdown.

It’s been met with no shortage of critical acclaim, winning 10 Tony Awards in 2021,  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, including New Broadway Musical.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers and with a book by Tony Award winner John Logan, choreography by Tony Award winner Sonya Tayeh and music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tony Award winner Justin Levine.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical in Atlanta

Be sure to check out Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta! Performances are happening at the Fox Theatre through April 30, 2023. Tickets will be available at the Fox Theatre box office (660 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308). You can also acquire tickets by visiting the Fox Theatre’s website or by calling (855)-285-8499. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling the Fox Theatre at (855)-285-8499.