The 1985 movie
Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, was a huge success, spawning two sequels and now, a stage musical. Many years in the making, the musical premiered in London in February 2020 (an unlucky time for theater), and made its way to Broadway last summer. While it didn't win any Tony Awards, it's still running, and the first national tour began this June, with Minneapolis one of its early stops. As a child of the '80s I have a soft spot in my heart for the movie, although I'm not a superfan, and I found the musical to be a ton of nostalgia-wrapped fun. The design seamlessly blends projections with real set pieces to create an almost visceral experience. The musical is performed in a very broad tone and doesn't take itself too seriously, with a few fourth-wall breaking winks at the audience. All of this, plus this fantastic touring cast that is giving their all to the story, make for a really fun night at the theater. Did
Back to the Future need to be made into a musical? Maybe not. Is it ground-breaking music-theater? No. But they've tapped into the nostalgia and love for this movie and created something fans, and maybe even those unfamiliar with the movie (if such people exist), will love. Doc, Marty, and the DeLorean will be in town for two weeks, so head to the Orpheum Theatre, buckle your seatbelt, and enjoy the ride! (
Click here for the official ticket site.)
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Doc, the DeLorean, and Marty (Don Stephenson and
Caden Brauch, photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman) |
One of the movie's screenwriters, Bob Gale (with director Robert Zemeckis), wrote the book for the musical, and the story is largely unchanged. There are a few little tweaks, like how Doc is hurt the night Marty goes back in time, and some jokes added or changed that the reflection of time allows (like an amusing tongue-in-cheek song about how great things were in the '50s). It's pretty much the movie recreated on stage, with music added. Some of the performances are impersonations of the performances in the movie, but for a nostalgic piece like this, that's to be expected, and feels comforting and familiar.
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Caden Brauch as Marty McFly
(photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman) |
Much of the effects are accomplished with video projections, beginning with the opening sequence in which we travel back in time from 2024 to 1985 where our story begins, getting the audience right on board. The projections work very well with the real scenery, at times the video scrolls to the next scene while a set piece is brought in at the same pace, making it sometimes difficult to know what's real and what's video. Doc's studio, the McFly home, Lorraine's bedroom, and a set of lockers bring a tactile reality to the show, and yes, there is an actual car on stage that thrillingly drives around by some magic (turntable? conveyer belt?), with the video changing behind it so it feels like it (and we) are moving. Lighting and sound design add to the effect, particularly in the startling lighting and thunder storm. It's all a very satisfying experience that almost makes us feel like we're inside the movie, particularly in the final scenes. (Scenic and costume design by Tim Hatley, sound design by Gareth Owen, lighting design by Tim Lutkin & Hugh Vanstone, video design by Finn Ross, and illusion design by Chris Fisher.)
The score (by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard) incorporates a couple of songs from the movie ("Earth Angel" and "Johnny B. Goode"), and while there are hints at the iconic theme, it isn't used as much as I thought it would be. But I like how the sound changes from an '80s feel to a '50s feel as we go back in time. There are some fun girl group numbers, and bouncy '50s dancing well executed by the cast (choreography by Chris Bailey).
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Caden Brauch as Marty McFly
(photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman) |
Of course Michael J. Fox starred in the movie franchise, and he left big shoes to step into (although perhaps not literally). Caden Brauch is adorable as Marty McFly, extremely likeable and full of energy. Don Stephenson is over the top as Marty's eccentric friend Doc Brown, doing all kinds of crazy voices and mugging, delighting the audience. A fun running gag is that every time he sings, dancers appear, which is commented on and played to great comedic effect. Other highlights in the cast are Cartreze Tucker as the (future) mayor, who nearly brings the house down with "Gotta Start Somewhere;" Zan Berube as Marty's randy mother; and the comic duo of Ethan Rogers as Biff and Burke Swanson as George McFly, both doing spot-on impersonations of the characters from the movie, the latter with some impressive physical comedy skills. And kudos as always to the hard-working ensemble, playing multiple different supporting characters and chorus lines, changing clothes and eras and personalities on a dime. Speaking of clothes, the show gets to have fun with both '80s and '50s fashions, as well as the iconic red puffy vest.
Fun, nostalgia, thrilling effects, and a great cast, what more do you need from a Back to the Future musical?! See it at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis now through September 22.
