Movin' Out (musical)
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''Movin' Out'' is a 2002
jukebox musical A jukebox musical is a stage musical or musical film in which a majority of the songs are well-known popular music songs, rather than original music. Some jukebox musicals use a wide variety of songs, while others confine themselves to songs perfo ...
featuring the songs of
Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, pianist and songwriter. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man (song), Piano Man" after his album and signature song of the same name, he has led a commercially successful career as a solo ...
. Conceived and created by
Twyla Tharp Twyla Tharp (; born July 1, 1941) is an American dancer, choreographer, and author who lives and works in New York City. In 1966 she formed the company Twyla Tharp Dance. Her work often uses classical music, jazz, and contemporary pop music. Fr ...
, the musical tells the story of a generation of American youth growing up on
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during the 1960s and their experiences with the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
. The principal characters are drawn from those who appeared in various Joel tunes: high school sweethearts Brenda and Eddie ("
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" is a song from Billy Joel's 1977 album '' The Stranger''. In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked it the 324th greatest song of all time on their updated 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. Release Although never rel ...
"), James ("James"), Judy ("Why Judy Why"), and Tony (Anthony in " Movin' Out"). The show diverts from the traditional musical in that it essentially is a series of dances linked by a thin plot, and none of the dancers sing. Instead, all the vocals are performed by a pianist (the "Piano Man", representing Billy Joel) and band suspended on a platform above the stage while the dancers act out the songs' lyrics, basically making the show a rock ballet.


Productions

In 2000, Tharp approached Joel for permission to create the show, presenting him with a 20-minute concept video featuring the show's eventual Broadway cast. Joel was enthusiastic about it, but kept his involvement thereafter to a minimum. The show started in pre-Broadway try-outs at the Shubert Theatre in Chicago from June 25, 2002, through September 1, 2002. The Chicago production was negatively received, and Tharp made extensive revisions to the show's first act, with some suggestions from Joel. It premiered on
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
at the
Richard Rodgers Theatre The Richard Rodgers Theatre (formerly Chanin's 46th Street Theatre and the 46th Street Theatre) is a Broadway theater at 226 West 46th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1925, it was designed by Herb ...
on October 24, 2002, to more positive reviews, and closed on December 11, 2005, after 1,303 performances and 28 previews. Directed and choreographed by Tharp, the cast included Michael Cavanaugh (Piano Man), Darren Holden (replacement Piano Man), Wade Preston (alternate Piano Man),
Elizabeth Parkinson Elizabeth Parkinson is an American stage actress and dancer. She is best known for playing Brenda in the original production of the musical '' Movin' Out''. For this performance she was nominated for the 2003 Tony Award for Best Performance by a L ...
(Brenda), John Selya (Eddie),
Keith Roberts Keith John Kingston Roberts (20 September 1935 – 5 October 2000) was an English science fiction author. He began publishing with two stories in the September 1964 issue of ''Science Fantasy'' magazine, "Anita" (the first of a series of stor ...
(Tony), Henry Haid (understudy Piano Man), Ashley Tuttle (Judy), Benjamin G. Bowman (James), and
Scott Wise Scott Wise (born October 30, 1958) is an American theatre actor and dancer. He is known for his performances in the 1989 musical ''Jerome Robbins' Broadway'', which earned him a Tony Award, and in the 2002 film ''Chicago''. Wise was nominated f ...
(Sergeant O'Leary/Drill Sergeant). The first national tour of ''Movin' Out'' ran for three years, opening on January 27, 2004 and closing on January 21, 2007, after 1,111 performances. The tour also played to generally excellent reviews and full houses in 82 U.S. cities, and also ran in Canada in December 2005. It featured numerous dancers from the original Broadway production, who rotated in and out as schedules allowed. Darren Holden was the primary lead Piano Man and star for the entire run of the tour, understudied by Matt Wilson (2004), Charlie Neshyba-Hodges (2004),
James Fox William Fox (born 19 May 1939), known professionally as James Fox, is an English actor. He appeared in several notable films of the 1960s and early 1970s, including '' King Rat'', ''The Servant'', ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' and ''Performanc ...
(2005) and Matthew Friedman (2006).
Holly Cruikshank Holly Cruikshank (born June 18, 1973) is an American dancer. She is known for her role as Brenda in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp musical '' Movin' Out'', and has also danced lead roles in two other Tony-award-winning Broadway musicals: '' Fosse'' a ...
, in the role of Brenda, won the 2005
Helen Hayes Award The Helen Hayes Awards are theater awards recognizing excellence in professional theater in the Washington, D.C. area since 1983. The awards are named in tribute of Helen Hayes, who is also known as the "First Lady of American Theatre." They ar ...
for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Non-Resident Production. The West End production opened on April 10, 2006, at London's
Apollo Victoria Theatre The Apollo Victoria Theatre is a West End theatre on Wilton Road in the Westminster district of London, across from London Victoria Station. (The theatre also has an entrance on Vauxhall Bridge Road.) Opened in 1930 as a cinema and variety th ...
where, despite receiving mostly solid reviews, it ran for less than two months, closing on May 2, 2006. James Fox and Darren Reeves were the leads. The show played Tokyo, Japan in the summer of 2006, with many of the first national tour's performers including Darren Holden in the lead role. A second national tour opened in
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on June 14, 2007, with Matthew Friedman and Kyle Martin in the lead role of Piano Man. A third National Tour opened in
La Crosse, Wisconsin La Crosse is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of La Crosse County. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's population as of the 2020 census w ...
on November 4, 2008, with Matthew Friedman, Kyle Martin, and Jon Abrams in the lead role of Piano Man. On October 15, 2002, a live cast recording was released featuring the 2002 original Broadway cast. It was a single CD featuring 30 tracks.


Song list

;Act I * "
Running on Ice ''Running on Ice'' is the second album by Vertical Horizon, released independently in 1995, and later re-released by RCA. It was produced by John Alagia ( John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band), Doug Derryberry and Matt Scannell. Though still technicall ...
" – Sergeant O'Leary ''(Chicago previews only)'' * "
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" is a song written and performed by Billy Joel, from the hit album '' Glass Houses''. Released in 1980, the song peaked at number 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 charts for two weeks, from July 19 through August 1, ...
" – Company * "
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" is a song from Billy Joel's 1977 album '' The Stranger''. In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked it the 324th greatest song of all time on their updated 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. Release Although never rel ...
" – Brenda, Eddie, Tony, James, Judy, Sergeant O'Leary and Ensemble * "
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" is a song written and recorded by Billy Joel originally appeared on his 1977 album '' The Stranger''. The track details the singer's disgust with the upwardly mobile bourgeois aspirations of working- and lower-middle- ...
" – Tony, Eddie, James and Sergeant O'Leary * " Reverie (Villa D'Este)" (instrumental) / " Just the Way You Are" – James, Judy and Ensemble * "
The Longest Time "The Longest Time" is a doo-wop song by Billy Joel, released in 1984 as the fourth single from the 1983 album '' An Innocent Man''. Following the theme of the album in paying tribute to Joel's musical influences, the song is presented in the st ...
" / "
Uptown Girl "Uptown Girl" is a song written and performed by the American musician Billy Joel. The lyrics describe a working-class "downtown man" attempting to woo a wealthy " uptown girl". It was released on September 29, 1983, on his ninth studio album, ...
" – Brenda, Eddie, Tony and Ensemble * " This Night" – Tony, Brenda and Ensemble * " Summer, Highland Falls" – Eddie, Brenda, Tony and Ensemble * " Waltz #1 (Nunley's Carousel)" (instrumental) – Tony, Eddie, James, Drill Sergeant and Ensemble * "
We Didn't Start the Fire "We Didn't Start the Fire" is a song written and published by American musician Billy Joel. The song was released as a single on September 18, 1989, and later released as part of Joel's album '' Storm Front'' on October 17, 1989. A list song, i ...
" – Judy, Brenda, James, Tony, Eddie and Ensemble * "
She's Got a Way "She's Got a Way" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, originally released on his first studio album, '' Cold Spring Harbor'' (1971) and as a single from that album in some countries. It was also featured as a single from the 1981 ...
" – Tony, Brenda and Ensemble * " The Stranger" – Judy and Ensemble * "
Piano Man Piano Man refers to a male pianist. Piano Man may also refer to: Music * ''Piano Man'' (Billy Joel album), a 1973 rock album by Billy Joel ** "Piano Man" (song), a 1973 song from the album * ''Piano Man'' (Hilton Ruiz album), 1975 * ''Piano Man'' ...
" – Tony, James, Eddie, Drill Sergeant and Ensemble * " Elegy (The Great Peconic)" (instrumental) – Judy, Brenda, Tony, Eddie, Drill Sergeant and Ensemble * "
And So It Goes "And So It Goes" is a song written by Billy Joel in 1983, though it was not released until six years later. It appeared as the tenth and final track of his 1989 studio album '' Storm Front''. The original 1983 demo was released on the 2005 box se ...
" – Piano Man and Eddie ''(only done at limited shows)'' ;Act II * " Invention in C Minor" (instrumental) – Eddie and Ensemble * " Angry Young Man" – Eddie and Ensemble * "
Big Shot Big Shot may refer to: Fiction * Big Shot, an animated superhero character on the television show '' The Tick'' created by cartoonist Ben Edlund in 1986 * Big Shot, the former mascot of the Philadelphia 76ers until 1996 * ''Big Shot'', a fiction ...
" – Tony, Brenda and Ensemble * "
Big Man on Mulberry Street "Big Man on Mulberry Street" is a song by Billy Joel from the 1986 album ''The Bridge (Billy Joel album), The Bridge''.Disco ...
" – Tony, Brenda and Ensemble * "
Captain Jack Captain Jack may refer to: People * Calico Jack (1683–1720), a pirate in the 18th century * Captain Jack (Hawaiian) (died 1831), Naihekukui, commander of Kamehameha's fleet and father of Kalama * Captain Jack (fl. 1830s on), Kaurna man in c ...
" – Eddie and Ensemble * "
An Innocent Man ''An Innocent Man'' is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on August 8, 1983. The concept album is a tribute to the American popular music of Joel's adolescent years with Joel paying homage to a number of ...
" – Eddie and Ensemble * "
Pressure Pressure (symbol: ''p'' or ''P'') is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that force is distributed. Gauge pressure (also spelled ''gage'' pressure)The preferred spelling varies by country and e ...
" – Judy, Eddie and Ensemble * "
Goodnight Saigon "Goodnight Saigon" is a song written by Billy Joel, originally appearing on his 1982 album ''The Nylon Curtain'', about the Vietnam War. It depicts the situation and attitude of United States Marines beginning with their military training on Parr ...
" – Eddie, Judy, James, Tony and Ensemble * " Air (Dublinesque)" (instrumental) – Brenda * " Shameless" – Brenda and Tony * "
James James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...
" – Judy and Eddie * "
The River of Dreams "The River of Dreams" is a song by American musician Billy Joel. It is the title track and first single from his 1993 album, ''River of Dreams.'' The song was a hit, peaking at number three on the US and UK charts, making it Joel's best-charting ...
" / "
Keeping the Faith ''Keeping the Faith'' is a 2000 American romantic comedy film written by Stuart Blumberg, and starring Ben Stiller, Edward Norton (in his directorial debut), Jenna Elfman, Eli Wallach, and Anne Bancroft. This film was released by Touchstone Pic ...
" / "
Only the Good Die Young "Only the Good Die Young" is a song from Billy Joel's 1977 rock album '' The Stranger''. It was the third of four singles released from the album. Song information "Only the Good Die Young" was controversial for its time, with the lyrics written ...
" – Eddie and Ensemble * " I've Loved These Days" – Tony, Brenda, Eddie and Ensemble * "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" (Reprise) – Full Company * "
New York State of Mind "New York State of Mind" is a song written by Billy Joel that initially appeared on the album ''Turnstiles'' in 1976. Although it was never released as a single, it has become a fan favorite and a song that Joel plays regularly in concert. Joel ...
" – Piano Man and Band ''(Chicago previews only)''


Awards and nominations


Original Broadway production


References


External links

*
"'Movin' Out' plot and production at guidetomusicaltheatre.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Movin Out 2002 musicals Broadway musicals Jukebox musicals Dances by Twyla Tharp Billy Joel Tony Award-winning musicals