Back to the Future (musical)


Back to the Future is a musical with music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard and a book by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, adapted from their original screenplay. Based on the 1985 film of the same name, the show features original music alongside hits from the film, including "The Power of Love" and "Johnny B. Goode".
The musical originally was slated to make its world première in London's West End in 2015, the year to which the trilogy's characters traveled in Part II. However, after director Jamie Lloyd left the production in August 2014, due to "creative differences" with Zemeckis, the production's release date was pushed to a 2016 opening. In May 2019, it was announced the show would receive its world premiere at Manchester Opera House in February 2020, ahead of an expected West End transfer. The show stars Olly Dobson, playing the role of screen star Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly, and Tony Award winner Roger Bart as Doc Brown, originally portrayed by Christopher Lloyd.

Background

During a question and answer session at a 2004 DeLorean convention, Bob Gale said that "" In February 2012, it was first revealed that a musical adaption of the 1985 film Back to the Future was being developed and had been explored for around eight years prior. Workshops for the musical took place in 2014, in July in London and the following month in Los Angeles, with the intention to open the show in the West End in 2015, in time for the 30th anniversary of the film.
The movie achieved success at the box office, taking over $380 million. It follows Marty McFly, a teenager who is accidentally sent back in time in a DeLorean to 1955. He meets his future parents in high school and accidentally attracts his mother's romantic interest. Marty must repair the damage to history by causing his parents-to-be to fall in love, and with the help of scientist Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown, he must find a way to return to 1985. Back to the Future marked the start of a successful franchise, ultimately becoming a trilogy, with the total income for the three films taking over $936 million.
Jamie Lloyd initially was scheduled to direct the show, but withdrew from the project in September 2014, citing creative differences with Bob Gale. Lloyd's withdrawal from the production was expected to delay the world premiere until at least 2016, and a new director was sought. The delay in production marked several other departures of the original creative team including Soutra Gilmour withdrawing as designer, Jon Clark as lighting designer, Alan Williams as musical supervisor and Andrew Willis as skating consultant.
While discussing the project, writer Bob Gale said the stage version would "retell our story on stage in a brand new way".

Production History

Manchester World Premiere (2020)

On 17 May 2019, it was announced the show would receive its world premiere beginning previews from 20 February, with an opening night on 11 March 2020, five years later than originally planned, at the Manchester Opera House and then a West End transfer. The production was directed by John Rando, choreography by Chris Bailey, set and costume design by Tim Hatley, video design by Finn Ross, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, fight and stunt direction by Maurice Chan and illusions by Chris Fisher. The films' composer, Alan Silvestri was to compose a new score with Glen Ballard, with the addition of original songs from the film, including "The Power of Love" and "Johnny B. Goode". sound design is by Gareth Owen, musical supervision and vocal arrangements by Nick Finlow and orchestrations by Ethan Popp.
After several weeks of performances, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Manchester Opera House posted to its website "We regret to announce that from this evening the Manchester Opera House has closed in light of official government advice. Back to the Future the Musical performances are therefore suspended until further notice."

Reception

The Guardian reported that fans of the film franchise gave the play glowing reviews, saying it is "a wonderful tribute to the film" and "The final action sequence alone was worth the price of admission. This is the new standard of spectacle, I feel like people are going to be talking about this for a long time."

Cast and characters

CharacterManchester
Marty McFlyOlly Dobson
Emmett BrownRoger Bart
George McFlyHugh Coles
Lorraine Baines-McFlyRosanna Hyland
Goldie Wilson /
Marvin Berry		Cedric Neal
Biff TannenAidan Cutler
Jennifer ParkerCourtney-Mae Briggs
Gerald StricklandMark Oxtoby
Dave McFlyWill Haswell
Linda McFlyEmma Lloyd

Musical numbers

Act 1
Act 2
''"Good at Being Bad" featured in the original song list, but was subsequently cut from the musical during the shows preview period in Manchester.