MIDWEST — A world of “splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory” is coming to the Midwest in 2024.
“Moulin Rouge” is continuing to tour around the nation, and midwestern stops include the Ohio Theatre in Columbus, Ohio (Jan. 2 - 14), the Marcus Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee (March 14 - 26), the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton, Wis. (June 11 - 23) and the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wis. (July 9 - 21).
The musical follows Satine, who works in the nightclub Moulin Rouge. She become’s a muse for Christian, a writer and composer, and he falls in love with her. However, their love story must be kept a secret as Satine is promised to the Duke of Monroth, who has promised to invest in the Moulin Rouge to save it financially.
Andrew Brewer, who plays the Duke Of Monroth, has been with the national tour since it started in January 2022.
We sat down for an interview with Brewer before the musical made its way to the Midwest.
Spectrum News 1: If you had to describe “Moulin Rouge” to someone who knew nothing about it, what would you tell them?
Andrew Brewer: I would say it is a love story that’s set inside of Paris, in a nightclub where your deepest and darkest desires can come true. And [it is] an exploration of love, loss, joy and sadness and all of it through a lens of overblown and exhilarating energy and, at the same time, quiet and deep love.
Spectrum News: How is the musical different from the movie?
Brewer: I think there’s sort of a stigma around movie-musicals and those sorts of things — that it’s a little fluffy and not really gonna be enjoyable. I think it’s actually been a really great experience and the audiences have a wonderful time, which makes it even more fun for us as performers.
The musical version is a little more flushed out [in comparison to the film]. It’s expanded; some of the smaller characters from the movie — some of the supporting characters — we get a little more time with them. We get a little more insight into who they are. They get some songs as well.
…[There is also more] of love triangle between Christian, Satine and the Duke.
Spectrum News: The show features 70 songs from various artists that are reimagined for the stage. What’s it like working on a jukebox musical?
Brewer: It’s really fun [working on a jukebox musical with more well-known songs]. It comes with a lot of things from the audience, which is nice. There’s a lot of memories attached [to some of these songs]
While we are still portraying character things through the music, I think we sort of get to meet the audience in the middle a little bit and what the audience brings to it as well as what we bring to it. It makes the moments into something that’s even more special and just such a different experience than a traditional musical.
It is interesting how the songs are used throughout the show. Sometimes, it is sort of turning a song on its head and playing against what the lyrics of it are, or there are a few medleys throughout the show. [The show mashes up] songs together that maybe we would never in a million years put together. It’s fun for the audience; it’s fun for us to expand upon, and we still get to use them through the story. They still play into the emotions and the drive of the show as well.
Spectrum News: What’s your favorite part of the show?
Brewer: The top of Act II [is my favorite part of the show]. Throughout the show, there is a musical that is pitched to be put on in the Moulin Rouge. At the top of Act II, we step into a rehearsal with one of the big dance numbers. The song is amazing — the mashups that they use, the songs throughout that number. The dancing is incredible; the lighting is incredible. It’s really an experience [and] one of the best Act II openers I think I’ve ever seen in a musical.
Spectrum News: What do you hope audiences take away from “Moulin Rouge?”
Brewer: Honestly, I hope they can feel and take away the love that we have, that we talk about in the show, the memories it might bring up. Maybe a renewed sense of interpersonal — between each other — enjoyment and love and care
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