Moulin Rouge May Delay Start of Boston Previews After Construction-Related Incident

The new stage musical adaptation of Baz Luhrmann's film was set to begin previews June 27 at the newly renovated Emerson Colonial Theatre.

The pre-Broadway engagement of Moulin Rouge! may be forced to delay the start of previews, which are scheduled to begin June 27 in Boston, due to a construction issue with part of the steel grid above the stage of the newly restored Emerson Colonial Theatre.

"During technical rehearsals for the world premiere engagement of Moulin Rouge The Musical! at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre, a construction-related issue occurred in a support of the steel grid above the stage overnight Friday, June 8, 2018, into Saturday, June 9," a representative for the Ambassador Theatre Group, which operates the Colonial, said in a statement to Playbill. "The issue was contained Saturday morning and a resolution is underway. No one was in the theatre when this incident occurred. Additionally, no damage was done to the set of Moulin Rouge! Safety is the top priority, and crews have been working around the clock in order to restore the support and ensure its integrity moving forward. The venue is currently working with the producers of Moulin Rouge! in reviewing the show’s performance schedule."

Directed by Tony nominee Alex Timbers, Moulin Rouge! is scheduled to open July 22 for a run through August 19.

Moulin Rouge! marks the return of a tradition of Broadway shows playing out-of-town tryout engagements at the historic Colonial Theatre. Numerous shows in trouble underwent revisions during their runs there, transforming into hits by the time they opened on Broadway.

Opened in 1900, the Colonial served as the birthplace of such musicals as Oklahoma!, Anything Goes, Porgy and Bess, Carousel, A Little Night Music, La Cage aux Folles, Grand Hotel, and the legendary Follies.

Some of Broadway’s most indelible songs were written in the the theatre’s lower lobbies and premiered on its stage, including “I’m Still Here” from Follies, the opening number of Oklahoma! (which arrived in Boston with the title Away We Go!), “I Am What I Am” from La Cage aux Folles, and nearly half the score to Grand Hotel.

In September 2015, Emerson College announced it would close the historic venue, with potential plans for its future including converting it into a dining hall (this proposal was later scrapped). The U.K.- based Ambassador Theatre Group announced its acquisition of the theatre last year.

Moulin Rouge! stars Aaron Tveit as Christian and Tony Award winner Karen Olivo as Satine. (The roles were originated on screen by Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman in the 2001 film.)

Moulin Rouge! features songs from the film's soundtrack, in addition to recent pop hits released since its premiere.

Also featured in the cast are six-time Tony nominee Danny Burstein (Fiddler on the Roof) as Harold Zidler, Tony and Olivier nominee Sahr Ngaujah (Fela!) as Toulouse-Lautrec, Tam Mutu (Doctor Zhivago) as the Duke of Monroth, Ricky Rojas (Burn the Floor) as Santiago, and Robyn Hurder (Nice Work If You Can Get It) as Nini.

Read: MEET THE CAST OF THE MOULIN ROUGE! MUSICAL

The ensemble includes Jacqueline Arnold, Olutayo Bosede, Kyle Brown, Sam Cahn, Joe Carroll, Max Clayton, Natalie Cortez, Jennifer Florentino, Paloma Garcia-Lee, Bahiyah Hibah, Ericka Hunter, Holly James, Brandon Leffler, Reed Luplau, Jeigh Madjus, Daniel Maldonado, Morgan Marcell, Brandt Martinez, Jodi McFadden, Kevyn Morrow, Fred Odgaard, Dylan Paul, Khori Petinaud, and Benjamin Rivera.

For tickets, visit EmersonColonialTheatre.com or call (888) 616-0272.

