Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical jukebox adaptation that translates Baz Luhrmann's groundbreaking 2001 feature film into an immersive spectacle of modern pop music and theatrical romance. Set in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris at the turn of the 20th century, the musical chronicles the tragic love affair between Christian, an idealist American writer, and Satine, the shimmering star chanteuse of the Moulin Rouge nightclub. Celebrated for its extravagant set design and high-energy choreography, the show serves as a lush celebration of truth, beauty, freedom, and love on Broadway and international stages.
Unlike traditional stage musicals with original scores, Moulin Rouge! The Musical reimagines over 160 years of popular music, weaving together iconic tracks from diverse genres and decades into a mashup-heavy musical tapestry. The score features adapted classic numbers from the movie alongside modern hits popularized by artists like Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Adele, and Outkast. Central to the story is the struggle between artistic passion and financial survival, as Christian and his fellow Bohemians try to mount a new show while keeping Satine from the hands of the controlling Duke of Monroth.
Since its Broadway debut at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, the production has established itself as a premier destination for musical theatre fans worldwide. The combination of Alex Timbers' inventive direction, Sonya Tayeh's explosive choreography, and John Logan's updated book creates a sensory-rich environment that transforms the auditorium into the legendary Parisian cabaret itself. 'Come What May' and the 'Elephant Love Medley' remain signature theatrical highlights in a spectacle that continues to define contemporary jukebox musical theatre.
Book:John LoganWorld premiere 2018Based on the 2001 Twentieth Century Fox motion picture directed by Baz Luhrmann and written by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce
Reviews (17)
3.5
Based on ratings from 5 members ·
17 reviews
75% Recommends
0% Maybe
25% Doesn't recommend
Every review here is from a Theatreview member who saw the show. How our ratings work
J
Jacob
@jacob
Broadway
Sep 17, 2024 · Evening
It was about time for me to see this one. I’m not the biggest fan of Jukebox musicals but was fun seeing Aaron Tveit in this role!
Cast this performance
La Chocolat
Jacqueline B. Arnold
Nini
Sophie Carmen-Jones
Harold Zidler
Austin Durant
The Duke of Monroth
David Harris
Arabia
Tasia Jungbauer
Baby Doll
Jeigh Madjus
Pierre
Nick Martinez
Christian
Aaron Tveit
Toulouse-Lautrec
André Ward
Satine
Hailee Kaleem Wright
Santiago
Ricardo A. Zayas
Ensemble
Jacqueline B. Arnold
Ensemble
Giovanni Bonaventura
Ensemble
Olivia Cece
Ensemble
Alexander Gil Cruz
Ensemble
Aaron C. Finley
Ensemble
Bahiyah Hibah
Ensemble
Tasia Jungbauer
Ensemble
Kamal Lado
Ensemble
Jeigh Madjus
Ensemble
Nick Martinez
Ensemble
Kaitlin Mesh
Ensemble
Jenn Stafford
Ensemble
Brooke Taylor
Ensemble
Alec Varcas
Ensemble
Frank Viveros
Ensemble
Cole Joseph Wachman
Ensemble
Shaun-Avery Williams
Ensemble
Jordan Wynn
E
em
@orpheus
National Tour
Jul 22, 2026 · Empire Theatre, Liverpool · Evening
Doesn't recommend
Glad my group was as flabbergasted as I was. This is what people who hate musical theatre think all musical theatre is.
P
Peyton LaMorte
@peyton
Broadway
Aug 8, 2026 · Evening
D
dereka
@dereka
Broadway
Aug 1, 2026 · Matinee
Recommends
P
Peyton LaMorte
@peyton
Broadway
May 10, 2026
P
Peyton LaMorte
@peyton
Broadway
Nov 23, 2025
S
sarah
@ewenmontagu
Broadway
Sep 2, 2025 · Orchestra F10 · Evening
Recommends
Cast this performance
Christian
Christian Douglas
Satine
Ashley Loren
Zidler
Wayne Brady
The Duke
Taye Diggs
P
Peyton LaMorte
@peyton
Broadway
Jul 12, 2025
P
Peyton LaMorte
@peyton
Broadway
Jan 18, 2025
Recommends
Cast this performance
Christian
John Cardoza
Satine
Solea Pfeffier
P
Peyton LaMorte
@peyton
Broadway
Oct 13, 2024
Recommends
Cast this performance
Christian
Aaron Tveit
Satine
JoJo
P
Peyton LaMorte
@peyton
Broadway
Sep 14, 2024
Cast this performance
Christian
Aaron Tveit
Satine
JoJo
P
Peyton LaMorte
@peyton
Broadway
Aug 3, 2024 · Matinee
Recommends
Cast this performance
Christian
Aaron Tveit
Satine
Jojo
D
dereka
@dereka
West End
Jul 10, 2024 · Matinee
Recommends
P
Peyton LaMorte
@peyton
Broadway
Jul 3, 2024
Recommends
Cast this performance
Christian
Derek Klena
Satine
Courtney Reed
P
Peyton LaMorte
@peyton
Broadway
May 11, 2024 · Evening
Recommends
Cast this performance
Christian
Derek Klena
Satine
Courtney Reed
P
Peyton LaMorte
@peyton
Broadway
Apr 30, 2024 · Evening
P
Peyton LaMorte
@peyton
Broadway
Jul 21, 2019
Recommends
Synopsis
Set in Montmartre Quarter of Paris, France, at the turn of the century, a world of indulgent beauty and unparalleled extravagance, of Bohemians and aristocrats, of boulevardiers and mademoiselles, Moulin Rouge! The Musical tells the fictional story of an ambitious, lovesick writer, Christian, and a dazzling, entrancing chanteuse, Satine. Their lives collide at the Moulin Rouge with its many characters, including the host Harold Zidler, the brilliant and starving artist Toulouse-Lautrec, the greatest tango dancer–and gigolo–in all of Paris, Santiago; the tempting Nini; and The Duke of Monroth, the wealthy and entitled patron of the club who thinks he can buy anything he wants...including love.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical has a running time of approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission.
Does Moulin Rouge! The Musical have an intermission?
Yes, Moulin Rouge! The Musical features one standard 20-minute intermission between Act 1 and Act 2.
What age is Moulin Rouge! The Musical appropriate for?
Moulin Rouge! The Musical is recommended for ages 12 and up due to mature themes, theatrical violence, and sexual content. Children under 4 years of age are not permitted inside the theatre.
Is Moulin Rouge! The Musical based on the movie?
Yes, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is based on Baz Luhrmann's 2001 pop-culture film masterpiece starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. The stage adaptation expands upon the movie score by adding dozens of recent pop hits that were released after the film came out.
Who played the original Christian and Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway?
The original Broadway cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical starred Aaron Tveit as Christian and Karen Olivo as Satine when the show opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in 2019.
Are the songs in Moulin Rouge! The Musical the same as the movie?
While Moulin Rouge! The Musical retains key film classics like 'Lady Marmalade', 'Your Song', and 'Elephant Love Medley', the stage production significantly updates the score to feature over 70 popular songs by artists like Katy Perry, Sia, Rihanna, Adele, and Bruno Mars.