The musical adaptation of the 1985 cult classic, “Back to the Future,” made its Broadway debut this summer – two years after the musical’s premiere in London’s West End. The movie’s creators, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale had the idea of a musical adaptation for nearly a decade before its development began. In 2012, the musical was officially in the works with Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale returning to produce it alongside the movie’s composer, Alan Silvestri to write the music; but, can a movie with flying cars and time travel work as a musical? (Spoiler alert: it can!)
You know how they bring back movies as Broadway musicals? It seems like ‘Back to the Future’ would make a great Broadway show. So someday, maybe that’ll happen.
Bob Gale at a 2004 DeLorean Car Show and Convention
The musical essentially follows the same plot as the movie: Teenager Marty McFly accidentally travels back in time to 1955 in a DeLorean-turned-time machine invented by his friend, Doc Brown. After unintentionally altering the fate of his parents, Marty must find a way to fix the past and get… back to the future!
The musical stays true to the film’s original characters and story without feeling like a carbon copy. One of my favorite aspects was how they took the iconic instrumental main theme from the movie’s soundtrack and transformed it into a song called “It’s Only a Matter of Time,” reinventing the well-known piece into something new. The musical also featured several songs from the movie, including “The Power of Love,” “Earth Angel” and “Johnny B. Goode,” paying homage to the 1985 film while adding unique theatrical flair. Like the movie, the musical effortlessly captures the essence of different time periods, transporting audiences from the 1950s to the 1980s and to a futuristic version of the 21st century.
You might be wondering how they managed to recreate the elaborate moments from the movie, such as Marty traveling through time, Doc climbing the clock tower and the final scene with the flying DeLorean. Without giving too much away, the musical felt like a 4D ride at Universal Studios, which is ironic given that the theme park used to have a “Back to the Future” ride. This was my first time seeing a musical with so many special effects and it certainly didn’t disappoint!
“Back to the Future” is one of my favorite movies and now, “Back to the Future: The Musical” is one of my favorite Broadway shows! This musical is a must-see for 80s fans, theater lovers and everything in between. Tickets are available at https://www.backtothefuturemusical.com/new-york/ or at the Winter Garden Theatre box office.
References
BACK to the FUTURE: The Lost Legend that Created Universal Studios Florida and Thrilled a Generation. (2017, September 30). Theme Park Tourist. Retrieved November 17, 2023, from https://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20170927/33239/lost-legends-back-future-ride
Dawn, R. (2014, January 31). Great Scott! ‘Back to the Future’ to return as a stage musical. NBC News. Retrieved November 17, 2023, from https://www.nbcnews.com/entertainment/great-scott-back-future-return-stage-musical-2D12032002
Evans, S. (2022, November 21). Back to the Future The Musical to open in the West End in May 2021. London Theatre. Retrieved November 17, 2023, from https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/back-to-the-future-the-musical-to-open-in-the-west-end-in-may-2021
Frank, J. P. (2023, March 1). ‘Back to the Future’ Musical Sets Broadway Cast, Premiere. Vulture. Retrieved November 17, 2023, from https://www.vulture.com/2023/03/back-to-the-future-musical-broadway-cast-premiere.html