The ‘Moulin Rouge’ Musical Proves All You Need is Love
I’ve never been able to make it through the Moulin Rouge movie, which I’m still open to changing. As I did when I went into the Chicago Broadway show, I kept my opinion on the film (which I had also fallen asleep through) out of the question and allowed the live production to wow me.
While I knew that the Moulin Rouge musical was based on the film, I didn’t realize how much of it would be rewritten for the stage, nor did I realize the covers would be so recent and work so well with the storyline.
Robert Petkoff and the Company of the 2025 touring production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for Murphymade.
I also didn’t realize I would love it so much.
So, what can you expect from the show? Whether you’ve seen the movie or not, this production has something to offer everyone, and it’s well worth making the trip to see.
Jay Armstrong Johnson in the 2025 touring production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade; Arianna Rosario as Satine in the North American Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.
What is ‘Moulin Rouge’ about?
The story of Moulin Rouge! follows Christian (Jay Armstrong Johnson) as he lands in Paris as a young songwriter full of ambition and hope. The plot centers on his forbidden love affair with Satine (Arianna Rosario), the central star at the Moulin Rouge.
Along the way, he encounters Toulouse-Lautrec (Jahi Kearse) and Santiago (Danny Burgos), who encourage the love affair between them, despite some growing tensions and conflict.
Jahi Kearse, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Danny Burgos and the Company of the 2025 touring production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for Murphymade
Things take a complicated turn when the Duke of Monroth (Andrew Brewer), struggling to keep the Moulin Rouge alive, makes a deal with Harold Zidler (Robert Petkoff) to take Satine on a date. When Satine and Christian are caught together, the team turns it into an idea for a musical, which Zidler agrees to fund.
He, of course, is only after control. While Satine and Christian’s relationship grows and Satine wants the world to hear his music, Zidler flexes his power and control in a way that weaves conflict into the plot while not bogging down the pacing.
What’s the music like?
From what I have seen of the movie, a lot of the music is still the same, but it definitely includes some newer covers that weren’t part of the original.
I discovered this on the drive to the show, when my partner asked if I wanted to listen to music from the musical on the way. I thought he was putting on the movie soundtrack, so when Lorde’s “Royals” came on from the musical, I had a moment where I thought she had done the cover from the movie, only to realize the musical had taken on entirely new music.
Renee Marie Titus, Amara Berhan, Kaitlin Mesh and Rodney Thompson in the 2026 touring production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.
It all gave some sense to a comment Armstrong Johnson made to me when I had a chance to interview him about the role. He said anyone from a range of fandoms, including Adele, Lady Gaga, and Elton John, would find something they loved for the show. I thought he was speaking metaphorically, but with tunes like “Rolling in the Deep” and “Bad Romance” making their way into the final cut, it all made sense once I saw it live.
How are the performances?
I have to admit, I was actually taken aback and blown away by Armstrong Johnson’s performance. I’ve interviewed a number of actors in the Broadway shows that come to San Diego, but I’ve never been as impressed as I was by his vocals. My ribs almost shattered with his vibrato, my soul felt the ache in his love songs, and I’ve never been so proud to have conducted an interview with someone from the stage.
Jay Armstrong Johnson and Arianna Rosario the 2025 touring production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.
Apart from that, he was certainly not the only one holding his weight. No one dropped the ball during the show, and Rosario proved she earned the role of Satine with effortless ease.
The company, as well, was an incredible joy to watch. From the opening of the fan-favorite “Lady Marmalade” track that arguably made the movie famous in the first place to the closing credits, everything came together sonically in one fell swoop. All in all, it was one of the fastest three-hour shows I’ve ever been to.
That’s all great, but let’s talk about the staging and costumes
It’s no secret, or at least it shouldn’t be, that any stage production would be nothing without the people behind the scenes. It begins with the orchestra, which sets the pace for the music and helps determine the runtime of the show. It trickles down to the choreographers and directors, who ensure everything is blocked with precision and that everyone on stage has a place and a purpose.
But when it comes to the costuming and the staging, the entire show might be worthless if everything else is good but these departments are not.
Costumes, especially, can elevate a production from a backwater school play to something extraordinary. As Moulin Rouge is a story known for its glitz and glam, the opulence of everyone’s costumes was something worth noting. No shortage of diamonds or sequins anywhere in sight.
I’m also always so shocked and proud of the stage crew who keep everything together. The way we move from one scene to the next always has me wondering about how chaotic it must look backstage, and Moulin Rouge was no exception. Everything was vibrant red, inviting, and invigorating. It constantly switched from feeling like a concert to a stage show, which helped make the runtime disappear in a blink and left us wanting way more in the best way possible.
Where and when can I see the show?
If you’re in San Diego, the show plays at the Civic Theater through July 6. You can purchase your tickets through San Diego Broadway.
Following July 6, the tour has several other shows scheduled through 2026. For other Southern California options, mark your calendars for October 28 to November 16, when it will have two separate runs in Costa Mesa and Los Angeles.
In addition to the Southern California shows, be sure to visit the official tour page for information on other locations and dates. Circle the closest one, do yourself a favor, and go.
Jay Armstrong Johnson, Arianna Rosario and the company of the 2025 touring production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.
