| Titanique | |
|---|---|
2022 Off-Broadway poster
| |
| Music | Various |
| Lyrics | Various |
| Book | Tye Blue Marla Mindelle Constantine Rousouli |
| Basis | Titanic byJames Cameron |
| Premiere | 14 December 2017: Sorting Room Theatre |
| Productions | 2022 Off-Broadway |
Titanique is a jukebox musical featuring music of Céline Dion, with a book by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, and Constantine Rousouli. The musical is a parody of the 1997 film Titanic, and the story is a retelling of the movie's events from the perspective of Dion.[1]
The show premiered in Los Angeles in 2017. It premiered off-Broadway at The Asylum Theatre in June 2022, before later transferring to the Daryl Roth Theatre. At the 2023 Lucille Lortel Awards, the off-Broadway production won three awards, including Outstanding Musical.[2]
In the present-day, Céline Dion hijacks a Titanic museum tour, where she claims to have survived the Titanic's sinking. Dion begins to narrate her version of what really happened to Jack and Rose, and the other characters from the movie on the night the Titanic sank.[3]
The musical is partially improvised, and uses several pop culture references, including references to RuPaul's Drag Race and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.[1][3]
The show premiered at Los Angeles' Sorting Room Theater as a one-night-only experience titled Titanique: In Concert on 14 December 2017. Book writer Tye Blue directed with co-writers Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli starring as Céline Dion and Jack, respectively, with music direction by co-creator Nicholas Connell who also arranged & orchestrated the music, joined by Alex Ellis, who starred as Rose.[4] Other cast members included Peter Porte, Tom Lenk, Drew Droege, Sebastian La Cause, Katherine Tokarz, Tom Detrinis, and Adam Zelasko.[5]
The show held a limited engagement at New York City's Green Room 42 inside the Yotel hotel from 25–27 August 2018 with Mindelle, Rousouli, Ellis, La Cause, and Zelasko returning. Joining the cast were Stephen Guarino, Kathy Deitch, Mikhail Thompson, and Mykal Kilgore.[6][7] An encore six-concert run followed from 30 November to 3 December 2018.[8]
Anoff-Broadway revival began previews at The Asylum Theatre in New York City on 14 June 2022, with an official opening on 23 June 2022. It was once again directed by Blue, music directed by Connell, and choreographed by Ellenore Scott. It starred Mindelle as Dion, Rousouli as Jack, Ellis as Rose, Frankie GrandeasVictor Garber, Deitch as Margaret "Molly" Brown, Ryan Duncan as Ruth, John Riddle as Cal, and Jaye Alexander as The Iceberg. The creative team was rounded out with scenic design by Gabriel Hainer Evansohn, costumes by Alejo Vietti, sound design by Lawrence Schober, lighting by Paige Seber, and hair/makeup/wigs by Tommy Kurzman.[9] The production was seen by several people associated with the film, such as Victor Garber,[10] as well as Dion's manager and publicist.[11]
The production closed on 13 November 2022 and re-opened on 20 November 2022, at the Daryl Roth Theatre with the same creative team. Several members of the company remained, except for Ellis, Deitch, Duncan, and Alexander, who were replaced by Carrie St. Louis, Desireé Rodriguez, Russell Daniels, and Avionce Hoyles, respectively.[12] Grande departed the show on 22 December 2022, and the role of Victor Garber was assumed by Wulf Clark, with Mark Evans taking over the role of Cal on 24 December 2022. Rosé assumed the role of Garber on 26 January 2023,[13] followed by Willam Belli who took over the role on 5 September 2023. The show is selling tickets through June 2024.[14]
The production won Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Musical, lead performer in a musical (Mindelle) and costume design (Vietti). Also nominated were Scott for choreography and Riddle as featured performer[15]
An Australian production will premiere at The Grand Electric in Sydney. The musical will begin performances in September 2024, with specific dates and casting to be announced.[16]
A Canadian production of Titanique will open at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts, in Montreal on 27 October 2024 before closing on 24 November 2024. The production will then transfer to the CAA TheatreinToronto, where it will begin performances on 5 December 2024 and run through 12 January 2025.[17] Véronique Claveau will star as Céline Dion.[18]
On 2 May 2024, it was announced that Titanique will make its West End premiere in 2024.[19]
Off-Broadway production[20]
| Character | Off-Broadway | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 [21] | 2022 [22][a] | |
| Céline Dion | Marla Mindelle | |
| Jack Dawson | Constantine Rousouli | |
| Rose DeWitt Bukater | Alex Ellis | Carrie St. Louis |
| Victor Garber | Frankie Grande | |
| Molly Brown | Kathy Deitch | Desireé Rodriguez |
| Ruth DeWitt Bukater | Ryan Duncan | Russell Daniels |
| Cal Hockley | John Riddle | |
| The Seaman / Iceberg | Jaye Alexander | Avionce Hoyles |
Notes
Titanique quickly developed a devoted fanbase, primarily through word-of-mouth buzz[23] The original off-Broadway production's popularity led to the musical moving to the larger Daryl Roth Theatre, where it has continually been extended due to popular demand. According to The New York Times, the musical has cultivated a fan army of 'TiStaniques' with some having seen the musical over a dozen times.[23] GLAAD has attributed the musical's popularity to its unapologetic celebration of queer culture, campy humor, and pop culture references that have struck a chord with theater fans and the LGBTQ community.[24]
Titanique has received widespread critical acclaim. Elisabeth Vincentelli of The New York Times praised the show's absurdity and campy nature, mentioning that it fully embraces the over-the-top elements of both Titanic and Céline Dion.[25] Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post similarly praised the show's campy humor, describing the show as "outrageously funny", and praised Mindelle's performance as Dion.[26] Likewise, Robert Hofler of The Wrap said the show was "really funny" and that it offers a refreshing take on familiar material.[27]
Charles IsherwoodofThe Wall Street Journal found the music to be "blandly adult contemporary", although he commented that the show was entertaining and praised the infectious joy of the cast.[28] James Kleinmann of The Queer Review highlighted the show's appeal to queer audiences, praising its witty book and rich array of pop culture references.[29] He noted that the production's campy and festive atmosphere sets the tone for a show that is "both beautifully crafted and joyfully irreverent".[29]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lucille Lortel Awards[30] | Outstanding Musical | Won | |
| Outstanding Leading Performer in a Musical | Marla Mindelle | Won | ||
| Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical | John Riddle | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Choreography | Ellenore Scott | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Costume Design | Alejo Vietti | Won | ||
| Drama League Award | Outstanding Production of A Musical | Nominated | ||
| Distinguished Performance Award | Marla Mindelle | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Book of a Musical | Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, Tye Blue | Nominated | |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Book of a Musical | Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, Tye Blue | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical | Marla Mindelle | Nominated | ||
| Off Broadway Alliance Award[31] | Best New Musical | Won | ||
| 2024 | Obie Award | Distinguished Performance | Marla Mindelle | Won |
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