EXCLUSIVE:New York’s star is ready to be crowned by the DMC DeLorean, a sparkling stainless steel DMC DeLorean. Phantom of the Operapossesses its chandelier, Miss. SaigonA helicopter was seen hovering in front of him. Now, Broadway’s hit West End musical “The Phantom of the Opera” is in view. Back to the FutureYou are revving up with a DeLorean time-machine that steals scenes
At a recent matinee performance at London’s Adelphi Theatre of Return to the FutureBased on the 1985 movie starring Michael J. Fox, written by Bob Zemeckis and Bob Gale, and directed by Zemeckis, grown men — many with partners and children — gave their loudest cheers when the DeLorean made its appearance. 20 minutes into the first act, it arrived in a cloud of smoke and flashing white and blue lights. “It does get them excited,” the show’s lead producer, Colin Ingram, marveled. “Especially when it travels for the first time, back to 1955,”He said.
The British-designed, Dutch engineered stage vehicle “is a roughly $300,000 piece of scenery, and it twists, tilts, goes forward and revolves around the revolve,”Ingram explained. Actor Ben Joyce, dressed in Marty McFly’s trademark garb of orange body warmer and ’80s style denims, demonstrated the DeLorean’s computer-generated systems to a Deadline reporter.
The DeLorean machines will be built in the UK and then shipped to America for Broadway or other North American productions. At least eight more international productions are planned. The Future is Back
Joyce is currently starring in the London production. Jersey Boysat the Trafalgar theatre. He’ll be going from Frankie Valle to Hill Valley when he joins The Future is Back The 22-year-old actor saw the show at Adelphi last year, months prior to being able to audition. “My first two West End parts are both iconic roles,”He said.
Back to the FutureIt is nearing its one-year anniversary at the Adelphi. The first major cast change will see Joyce replace Olly Dobson as Marty, who originally played the role. Both will be transferring to Broadway. Ingram stated that auditions are for Back to the FutureYou should start in September and August, and remember that Marty must always be played by an American.
Tony-winning Roger BartProducers() has been with this show since its inception as Doc Brown. He was the original part created by Christopher Lloyd in 1985’s film. He will continue to be with it in London, and beyond. “We’re in negotiations for Roger to play Doc on Broadway,” Ingram confirmed.
Official announcementsBack to the Futurewill be made in September, with tickets going on sale in October. The opening date of the show has not been announced. Deadline has learned that both producers and creatives have chosen the Winter Garden Theater to be their home. Ingram answered questions. “I can’t say it’s the Winter Garden. We’re still negotiating.”
He stressed then, “I’m not confirming it.”
Ingram also wouldn’t confirm that the Broadway productionBack to the Futurewill come with a whopping 21st century price tag of $23.5 million, though he did acknowledge that it’s costing far less than the $28 million Broadway musical adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s movie Moulin Rouge!,Add “ There’s big contingency in there.”
The London production is expected to recoup by year’s end, or early in 2023.
The Back to the Future Gale wrote musical, with music by Alan Silvestri, Glen Ballard and lyrics by John Rando. The musical was directed by John Rando. Tim Hatley designed the show.
Madeleine Astrid Gurdon, Baroness Lloyd-Webber, is deputy chairman of LW Theatres, part of her husband Andrew Lord Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group empire. She is the power broker behind-the scenes. After seeing a performance out of town, it was she who realized that Back to the Future at the UK’s Manchester Opera House in February 2020 (before the pandemic shut down theaters), declared that the Adelphi would be its West End home, disappointing several producers who coveted it.
Her gamble has proved to be a smart one. The show’s a fun, crowd-pleasing entertainment spectacular for the family, not an artistic masterpiece. However, it did win the Olivier Award as this year’s best new musical, and other honors.
Visitors to London may see Olly dobson as Marty McFly for several more weeks until Joyce replaces him in August 17.
Rando and his team of creatives are working on some changes to the production that’ll be introduced when Joyce joins the show. “Unless you’ve seen the show a dozen times, you won’t notice them,”Ingram. “It’s all about tightening the show. The changes aren’t major,”He added.