Moulin Rouge! The Musical Debuts in Brisbane Next Month at QPAC

After a longer than usual season of Hamilton in the Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s (QPAC) Lyric Theatre in recent months, next month is set to bring forth a very different production. Created by the Australian production company Global Creatures, whose previous original musicals include Strictly Ballroom the Musical and Muriel’s Wedding the Musical, Queenslanders can soon look forward to Moulin Rouge! The Musical, which boasts ten Tony Awards and is set to host its first performance on 16 May 2023. The Australian production has already drawn nearly one million theatergoers with sold-out seasons in Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth. Brisbane is gearing up for a complete sell-out as well.

Producer Carmen Pavlovic expressed excitement about bringing the show to Queensland, noting that the lavish, bold, and deeply romantic production aims to surprise audiences.

We’re so excited to finally be bringing Moulin Rouge! The Musical to Queensland and we are thrilled at the overwhelming response from Brisbane audiences five-weeks out from our arrival. Our aspiration was to create a show that genuinely surprises audiences – whether you have seen the movie or not. The show is so lavish, so bold and deeply romantic, guests should be prepared for a completely immersive sensory experience. The Australian production team that are integral in bringing our show to life are quite simply some of the best in the world and we can’t wait for Brisbane to experience the spectacular.

Carmen Pavlovic – Producer

For those who have seen productions from Global Creatures in the past, you would know that the experience tends to start from the moment you enter the theatre – with creative set dressings and sometimes a complete theming of the venue. Moulin Rouge! is looking to be their most ambitious offering yet in this regard.

Upon entering the theatre, audiences should expect to be transported to a world of splendor, romance, and eye-popping excess. The auditorium is dressed to resemble the original Parisian nightclub, immersing guests in an environment of glitz, grandeur, and glory. Set designer Derek McLane will transform the Lyric Theatre with gold leaf-covered custom-built railings, carved with windmills and cherubs, gold columns, twinkling festoon lights, heart-shaped panels, and luxurious red velvet drapery. More than 3,500 light bulbs are used throughout the set, adding to the dazzling atmosphere.

A giant replica of the red windmill, an iconic symbol of the Moulin Rouge, took 20 people in Victoria over two months to create. The replica sits just left of the stage, perched in its own box with panels that turn like a real windmill. On the right side of the stage, a 5.1-meter tall, 220 kg replica of the equally impressive blue elephant pays homage to the original elephant statue in the garden of the Moulin Rouge nightclub in Paris.

Audiences who arrive early will be asked to put away their phones as performers appear on stage 15 minutes before the show officially begins. This choreographed pre-show adds to the feel of a Parisian nightclub, as the performers actively mix and mingle among themselves and with patrons. Even some of the lead actors can be spotted mingling on-stage during this time.

The massive “Moulin Rouge” neon sign hanging over the stage weighs 370 kg and will take 15 people to move and unbox it when it arrives at QPAC next month for the strictly limited Brisbane season. As the sign rises and the beat drops, audiences know they have officially entered the nightclub, and the spectacular show is about to commence.

Tickets to the QPAC Brisbane season of Moulin Rouge! The Musical can be purchased via the QPAC Website or by calling their box office on 136 246. Tickets are priced between $89.00 AUD and $299.00 AUD inclusive, with higher prices being indicative of better seating reserves, booking times, or other factors.

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