Bank of America Broadway in Fort Lauderdale Series with presenting Sponsor Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, presents the first North American tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, winner of 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, will play in Fort Lauderdale at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts March 5 – 17.
In addition to their Tony Awards, they won two Drama League Awards including Outstanding Production of a Musical, five Drama Desk Awards and ten Outer Critics Circle Award Honor citations including New Broadway Musical.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical opened to critical acclaim at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in the Summer of 2019 and reopened in September 2021 following the shutdown of Broadway due to the pandemic.
“Spectacular! Euphoric! In Moulin Rouge! The Musical, life is beautiful,” raves The New York Times. “Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a fabulous new musical. The high begins the instant you walk into the theatre,” said the New York Post. Entertainment Weekly concludes that “it’s easy to believe that Moulin Rouge! The Musical could run for 50 years.”
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.
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.
Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Pop the champagne and prepare for the spectacular spectacular … Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
Baz Luhrmann’s iconic film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and – above all – Love. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is more than a musical; it is a state of mind.
As in the film, Moulin Rouge! The Musical celebrates over 160 years of music – from Offenbach to Lady Gaga. The stage musical features many of the iconic songs from the movie, and also includes recent hits released since the movie premiered 21 years ago.
Released by 20th Century Studios, Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! premiered at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. At the 74th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture, and won two.
The Moulin Rouge of Paris, managed by Jean-Jacques Clerico (CEO), is a dazzling and spectacular universe, the symbol of the Parisian way of celebrating since 1889. Starting life as a popular cabaret and dance hall, the venue became an iconic music hall in the Roaring Twenties, and then a theatre where numerous famous French and international artists stepped out into the limelight. Today, the Moulin Rouge and its 60 artists present the Féerie revue show: two hours of amazement between cabaret and music hall styles where dance scenes and surprise acts intersperse – without forgetting the Moulin Rouge’s most emblematic dance, the French Cancan! Since its creation, the Moulin Rouge of Paris has always been an invitation to live and share all the emotions and effervescence of a unique party extravaganza. http://www.moulinrouge.fr/
It was a pleasure to sit down with Danny Burgos for this exclusive Hotspots interview:
At what age did you begin performing?
I started performing when I was 9 or 10, as I would sing in church along with my aunts. One day one of my aunts couldn’t sing and I got to sing her solo and the rest was history. I started singing in Musical theater when I was 13. Here is how it happened…I was singing at Coldstone Creamery, and I got a tip, that guy came back and tipped me again and he happened to be the musical director of the community theater and he hired me.
What was your first professional gig?
I want to say it was after my freshman year in college I worked at Flat Rock Playhouse in Flat Rock North Carolina, and I think I got paid $100 a week.
You are also a nurse; how do you balance the two careers?
Being in Moulin Rouge, I have had to take a brief sabbatical from being a nurse. However, my goal would be to be in a Broadway show Tuesday through Sunday and work a couple shifts a month as a nurse.
Moulin Rouge has taken Broadway by storm, is there additional pressure touring in this show?
I think there is, only because we have such a following from the movie and then from the Broadway show. The fan base is insane in the best way possible as they clock everything. There definitely is pressure to make it just as good as the Broadway production.
Other than this one, what has been your favorite role so far?
Before this, I played Emilio Estefan in “On Your Feet.” I am a first full generation American as my mom is Cuban, but my dad is Puerto Rican. It was my favorite part, because I was also able to speak Spanish on stage, and it was great to be able to be authentically Latino and show my culture.
What’s your fantasy role (a role you haven’t played but want to)?
Hamilton in Hamilton. I saw it one time and I realized I need to be in that before I die.
You are part of the LGBTQ+ community, are you single or married?
I am definitely single!
What are you looking for in the perfect guy?
I need clear communication; I want to know the partner I have is willing to listen to me as much as they are willing to talk. I also enjoy someone who is very passionate about what it is they do. They don’t have to love what I do, but they must hear about it, as I am always willing to hear about their passions.
How well do you and your castmates get along?
As good as possible. This group is particularly good at supporting one another. We are very cohesive as we understand how to work well together.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Charismatic, emotional, and resilient.
What do you do for fun?
I am a tennis player and when I am in New York I am usually in a league. I also like to wake up early and go for a jog. In addition, I am big on any type of outdoor activities. If I can see the sky, it is very therapeutic for my heart and soul.
What should our readers expect from this touring company of “Moulin Rouge”?
It is everything people love about the movie and then they added more and made it better. They kept the larger-than-life quality and made it even bigger for the stage. You will hear the classics and then also hear some Beyonce, Cia, etc. In a nutshell, this is a big ole romcom on the stage and I love seeing all the smiling faces in the audience. It makes for a great night at the theater. Its just a good time for anyone from 12 to 112. What I hear from people who see the show is that it always exceeds their expectations.
For more information on Danny, you can follow him at: Instagram.com/bannydurgos.
For more information about Moulin Rouge the Musical, go to MoulinRougeMusical.com, and to purchase tickets for the first North American tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, go to Browardcenter.org.
