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Elton John Musicals: A History of Stage Shows

Published on: Sep 21, 2024
By: Isabella Arras
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The Lion King at the Minskoff Theatre

Who is Elton John?

Born in Pinner, Middlesex, England, Sir Elton Hercules John is one of the most successful singer/songwriters in history. In terms of overall success he is third, behind Madonna and the Beatles, and the most successful solo male artist on the American charts. His tribute to the late Princess Diana, “Candle in the Wind 1997” holds the record for the biggest-selling physical single of all time. He has sold more 300 millions records worldwide and performed in over 80 countries. Some of his most well-known songs include “Tiny Dancer,” “Your Song,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” and of course “Rocket Man.” 

As well as being an international superstar, Elton John is revered in the musical theater industry as a talented composer, lyricist, and producer. Some of his most notable contributions to Broadway include his compositions for The Lion King and Aida, which won him his first Tony Award. Throughout his career in the musical theater industry, he has composed with lyricists Sir Tim Rice, Lee Hall, Bernie Taupin, and now Jake Shears. In January of this year, he became one of only twenty-one people in the world to have won a coveted EGOT – meaning he has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award – after receiving an Emmy for his Disney+ special “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium.”

He is known to have varying interests and passions including sports, fashion, and charitable pursuits. This is reflected by Rocket Entertainment which includes Rocket Music, Rocket Stage, Rocket Pictures, and Rocket Sports, all of which were co-founded by Elton John. Elton John’s husband, David Furnish is the co-chief of Rocket Pictures. One of the projects produced by Rocket Pictures was the 2019 biopic about his life titled Rocketman, which starred Taron Egerton. In addition to his professional ambitions, Elton John devotes his energy to several charitable organizations. Some charitable acts of note are his founding of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and his endowment of scholarship funds at the Royal Academy of Music and the Juilliard School of Music.

Currently Playing On Broadway and the West End

Tammy Faye

Tammy Faye

Broadway's The Palace Theatre welcomes back Elton John as the composer of the new musical Tammy Faye with lyrics by Jake Shears, a book by James Graham, and direction by Rupert Goold. It is based on the true story of evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker, wife to pastor Jim Bakker, who aided her husband in creating a nationwide congregation with the rise of cable television. The musical dives into the drama behind the scenes as this charismatic woman and her husband attract followers by putting the “fun back in faith.” The musical began in the London theatre scene, starring Katie Brayben and Andrew Rannells.

Katie Brayden will be reprising her role on Broadway, joined by Christian Boyle and Michael Cerveris. Previews for the new Broadway musical Tammy Faye will begin this coming October.

The Devil Wears Prada: A New Musical

The Devil Wears Prada: A New Musical

This October London’s Dominion Theatre will debut the new The Devil Wears Prada musical based on the bestselling novel by Lauren Weisberger and the 2006 blockbuster film, which starred Anne Hathaway as Andy and Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly. The story follows a fresh college graduate with dreams of being a journalist; however, school didn’t prepare her for the challenges she’ll face when she lands an assistant job for the seemingly cold blooded editor-in-chief of a hot fashion magazine. When she begins to find her stride at the magazine, her personal life takes a hit forcing her to assess her priorities.

The musical will feature a score by Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub, book by Kate Wetherhead, and direction & choreography by Jerry Mitchell, a three time Tony Award winner. Fans will be excited to note that the iconic role of Miranda Priestly will be played by none other than Vanessa Williams, best known for her television roles in Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives. As her new pop song “Legs (Keep Dancing)” demonstrates, as well as being a talented actress with a knack for playing assertive women, she is still light on her feet.

The Lion King at the Minskoff Theatre

The Lion King

Elton John and lyricist Tom Rice wrote all the songs in the 1994 Disney cartoon film, with a score by Hans Zimmer. The Lion King was adapted into a staged production in 1997, featuring additional music and lyrics by Lebo M., Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, and Hans Zimmer; the book was written by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi. The story follows young Simba, a lion cub next in line to be king, who embarks on a somewhat involuntary hero’s journey before returning to claim his rightful place as king of the pride.

It made its Broadway debut at the New Amsterdam Theatre and won six Tony Awards that year, including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical by Julie Taymor. Audiences young and old are enthralled by Taymor’s epic puppetry paired with John’s engaging music. To date, it is the third longest running show in Broadway history and the highest grossing Broadway production of all time. 

A History of Elton John Musicals

Billy Elliot The Musical

Billy Elliot: The Musical

Based on the 2000 film with the same name, Billy Elliot: The Musical is a coming of age story about a young boy who unexpectedly finds solace in ballet after the death of his mother and amid the distress of his family due to the 1984-1985 miners’ strike in County Durham, in North East England. It challenges gender stereotypes and captures the societal pressures in a seemingly hopeless situation. The musical about this tiny dancer has a score by Elton John and book and lyrics by Lee Hall, who also wrote the film it was based on. The first production opened in London at the Victoria Palace Theatre on the West End in 2005. It was nominated for nine Laurence Olivier Awards, winning four, and when it came to Broadway it won ten Tony Awards and ten Drama Desk Awards. 

Lestat

Lestat

This vampiric Anne Rice inspired musical was the third musical Elton John composed for on Broadway. It follows the story of a young Lestat who journeys to Paris, to be with the man he loves. His life grows only more complicated from there when he gets turned into a vampire, and feels compelled to turn his loved ones into them as well. Apart from Elton John, the creative team included lyricist Bernie Taupin, librettist Linda Woolverton, director Robert Jess Roth, and musical stager Matt West; choreographer Jonathan Butterell was added to the team late in the game to help refine the production before it opened on Broadway. The musical had its world premiere in 2005 at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, before coming to Broadway in 2006. Elton John wrote two new songs, “My Beautiful Boy” and “Right Before My Eyes,” for the Broadway production, noting that the show had gone through “radical” changes. It ran for roughly two months before it closed in May of 2006.

Aida, the Timeless Love Story

Aida

Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida premiered on Broadway in 2000, winning the rocket man his first Tony Award for Best Original Musical Score. Overall, the production received four Tony Awards, and the original Broadway cast recording won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The music was popular even outside of the theatre world; a recording of “Written in the Stars” by Elton John and LeAnn Rimes reached No. 2 on the Billboard US adult contemporary music chart. The musical book was written by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang. It was based on the opera of the same name by Giuseppe Verdi with a libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, inspired by an ancient Egyptian legend.

The audience gets transported back in time, with two strangers in a museum, to ancient Egypt and the love story of an Egyptian captain named Ramades and a secret Nubian princess named Aida. The director, Robert Falls, said in an interview, “[W]e wanted to approach the show in a way that was true to Elton. We’re trying to bridge this contemporary visual vocabulary as reflected in the score, with echoes of ancient Egypt, but keeping Elton’s world at the same time: Versace, high fashion, Princess Diana and love of outrageous clothes.”

Additional Contributions

Several other Broadway musicals have featured the rocket man’s already hit songs including Moulin Rouge!, Rocktopia, Everyday Rapture, Rock ‘N Roll! The First 5,000 Years, Almost Famous, and Bette Midler’s Clams on the Half Shell Revue. He is also credited with writing additional music for Holler If Ya Hear Me. Outside of his work as a composer and lyricist, he has also worked on Broadway as a producer of the 2010 play The Next Fall, which was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play.

Cast Recordings by Elton John

Billy Elliot The Musical

Billy Elliot: The Original Cast Recording

Billy Elliot: The Original Cast Recording features the vocals of the original London cast. Songs include: “The Letter,” “Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher,” and “Electricity” as well as Elton John’s versions of all three.

Aida Original Cast Recording

Aida Original Broadway Cast Recording

Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida Original Broadway Cast Recording won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. It features Adam Pascal, Heather Headley, and Sherie Rene Scott. Songs include: “My Strongest Suit,” “Written In The Stars,” and “Every Story Is A Love Story.”

The Lion King Original Broadway Cast Recording

The Lion King: Original Broadway Cast Recording features Jason Raize, Heather Headly, John Vickery, Samuel E. Wright, and Tsidii Le Loka. Songs include: “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King,” “Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” and“The Circle of Life.”

Broadway Tickets

Looking to buy tickets to a Broadway show in New York City like Tammy Faye? Check out our articles on Discount Tickets and Broadway Lottery to find ways to save, and explore the Top Broadway Shows for a Broadway guide to some of the most popular Broadway plays and musicals.

Isabella Arras

Isabella Arras

Contributing Author

Isabella Arras is a theatre & film director, writer, choreographer, and performer. She graduated magna cum laude from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Theatre and a Minor in Creative Writing. In addition to her work in theatre and film, she works as a freelance writer and editor. She recently self-produced her first professional production in New York City, Fault Line, which you can find more information on here: https://linktr.ee/faultline24


Education: B.F.A. in Theater and Minor in Creative Writing from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts

Published

Oct 10, 2024

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