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  • The four Lady Ms posing on stage during the opening scene of Moulin Rouge! The Musical
  • Scene from the Moulin Rouge North American tour in Satine’s dressing room, with two characters, Christian and Satine, played by Aaron Tveit and Jojo, embracing while surrounded by opulent furnishings and purple drapes.
  • Scene from Moulin Rouge! The Musical Australia during “Elephant Love Medley,” with two main characters beside a central Eiffel Tower structure, one holding a sparkly umbrella, under starry lights and a glowing “L’amour” sign.
  • Scene from Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Germany) featuring Toulouse-Lautrec and Santiago. Toulouse-Lautrec, seated on the left, wears a dark coat and hat and sits at a table with papers. Santiago stands on the right, holding sheet music in one hand and gesturing with the other. He wears black pants, a red shirt, and a detailed jacket. The background includes dark walls and an easel with artwork.
  • Scene from Moulin Rouge! The Musical (North American Tour), during “Backstage Romance.” Christian leans toward Satine, who is leaning back in a black corset and fishnet stockings. The stage is bathed in dramatic purple lighting, with other performers in dynamic poses surrounding them.
  • A theatrical scene from Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Netherlands production). Center stage is the character Harold Zidler, wearing a red velvet tailcoat with gold buttons, a gold-and-black patterned vest, striped pants, and holding a black top hat and cane. He is surrounded by performers in elaborate cabaret-style costumes—corsets, fishnets, top hats, and feathers—set against a dark background with dramatic red lighting.
  • Scene from Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Japan), during the “Pitch Song.” The stage features red and blue drapes, ornate golden frames, and a backdrop of a moonlit Parisian rooftop. A neon “L'amour” sign glows at the top center. Six performers in are on stage: one on the far left holds a doll, another in black lace strikes a pose, two center-stage performers interact with a hat, and two on the right wear formal attire.
  • Scene from Moulin Rouge! The Musical world tour with Satine performing “The Sparkling Diamond” in a glittering costume, surrounded by tuxedoed dancers under radiant blue stage lighting.
  • MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL
  • MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL
  • MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL
  • MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL
  • MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL
  • MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL

The story of bringing Moulin Rouge! The Musical to Broadway began, of course, with Baz Luhrmann’s groundbreaking 2001 film, MOULIN ROUGE!. With its hyperkinetic style and bold mash-up of genres, the movie became a global sensation, and the blend of glamour and grit within the story made it a perfect fit for Broadway.

In 2009, Global Creatures co-founders Carmen Pavlovic and Gerry Ryan OAM, joined Luhrmann and his creative partner, Catherine Martin, for lunch to explore the idea of adapting their beloved and indelible masterpiece for the stage. Within a few months, they had formalised a partnership, and the journey to bring the show to life began. A common connection between us was that our respective companies had a deep love of our Australian heritage, mixed with a yearning and drive to create globally.

What followed was a decade-long pursuit of negotiations across three continents to secure the package of underlying rights needed to stage the musical, plus agreements with the 31 publishers who represent the musical works of 165 songwriters embodied in the 75 songs that make up the score.

“The years of licensing obstacles were relentless. If ultimately a rights denial came for commercial or artistic reasons, we reminded each other that it was an opportunity to find a stronger creative solution. This was a show being made for now and the ‘now’ of it gave us many thrilling choices.” Carmen Pavlovic, PRODUCER

Running parallel to this decade-long rights process was the quest to find the optimal creative team to usher MOULIN ROUGE! to the stage. Tony Award-winning director Alex Timbers joined the team as director, and from there, we worked together to assemble a dream team of creatives.

VISIT MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL

FROM BOSTON TO BROADWAY 

Through a series of workshops, the show began to take shape, and a spectacular cast came together. Finally, Moulin Rouge! The Musical made its grand debut with a pre-Broadway engagement at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre from 10 July to 19 August 2018.

After earning rave reviews, Moulin Rouge! The Musical set its sights on New York City, officially opening at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on 25 July 2019 — making history as the first Australian-produced musical to originate on Broadway.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording was recorded just weeks after the show’s Broadway opening in July 2019 and released on 30 August across all major formats — streaming, digital download, CD, and vinyl. Produced by a powerhouse team including Baz Luhrmann, Alex Timbers, Justin Levine, and Matt Stine, with executive production by Amanda Ghost (Unigram) and co-production by Carmen Pavlovic and Bill Damaschke, the album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Broadway Cast Album chart and went on to earn a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theatre Album. Listen here.

BROADWAY to the world

From that first spark of an idea to a global phenomenon, Moulin Rouge! The Musical continues around the world, with the show playing on the West End, in Cologne in Germany, Utrecht in the Netherlands, alongside a North American Tour and a newly launched World Tour, which opened in Edinburgh in April 2025. The production will return to Seoul, Korea for a second season in November 2025. Past box office sell-out productions have also included Tokyo & Osaka (2023 & 2024), Seoul (2023) and an Australian Tour (2021-2024).

The production has been licensed to Nordiska APS, the largest performing rights agency in Scandinavia, with non-replica productions playing in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden in 2023, and Iceland opening in September 2025. The show has recently been licensed to Peeparrow Entertainment for a limited Italian season commencing in October 2025.

Screen and stage Producer, Bill Damashke, and Foresight Theatrical’s Aaron Lustbader and Nick Ginsberg have been integral collaborators since the inception of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Not only did they partner with us to launch the show in Boston and Broadway, but they also played a vital role in its international rollout, providing unwavering support throughout the challenges of a global pandemic when Broadway went dark overnight, international rollouts were halted, and long-planned campaigns were disrupted.

Even in the face of shutdowns and uncertainty, the producers and creative teams remained steadfast. Tours were rescheduled, productions adapted to local conditions, and when the curtains finally rose again, the show emerged stronger than ever — winning 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and continuing its remarkable global expansion.

To date, the show has captivated over 11 million audience members worldwide, cementing its place in the global theatre landscape.

To read more about the journey of bringing Moulin Rouge! The Musical to life, check out Moulin Rouge! The Musical: The Story of the Broadway Spectacular written by David Cote, from publisher Rizzoli. Available for purchase here.

© 2025 Global Creatures. Moulin Rouge® is a registered trademark of Moulin Rouge.

WORLDWIDE

A stage set from Moulin Rouge! The Musical, featuring a richly decorated interior with red velvet drapes, ornate chandeliers, and a glowing

Credit - Matthew Murphy

“Moulin Rouge! is more than a musical, it is a state of mind.”
Harold Zidler, Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Creatives

  • Credit Matthew Murphy

  • John Logan, author/book writer of Moulin Rouge! The Musical during rehearsals

    Credit Matthew Murphy

  • Alex Timbers, director of Moulin Rouge! The Musical sitting in front of the set of the production, with a giant blue elephant visible on the right.

    Credit Matthew Murphy

  • Sonya Tayeh, choreographer of Moulin Rouge! The Musical

    Credit Matthew Murphy

  • Justin Levine, Music Supervisor, Orchestrator, Arrangements & Additional Lyrics of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, inside a recording booth with headphones on

    Credit Jenny Anderson

  • Derek McLane, scenic designer of Moulin Rouge! The Musical sitting in front of the lavish set, illuminated pink and purple.

    Credit Matthew Murphy

  • Catherine Zuber, costume designer of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, posing with some of the production's costumes.

    Credit Matthew Murphy

  • Peter Hylenski, sound designer of Moulin Rouge! The Musical sitting at a sound board inside the theatre

    Credit Matthew Murphy

  • Justin Townsend, lighting designer of Moulin Rouge! The Musical sitting at a lighting station inside the theatre, illuminated by purple lighting

    Credit Matthew Murphy

  • Credit Matthew Murphy

  • Credit Matthew Murphy

In any creative team, there’s no guarantee that the magical element of alchemy will happen, but alchemy drew these artists to one another like magnets. They became the custodians of everything sacred in the film, the pioneers of its vision, and those timeless Bohemian values of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love.

Book John Logan
Director Alex Timbers
Choreographer Sonya Tayeh
Music Supervision, Orchestrations, Arrangements and Additional Lyrics Justin Levine
Set Design Derek McLane
Costume Design Catherine Zuber
Lighting Design Justin Townsend
Sound Design Peter Hylenski
Hair Design David Brian Brown
Makeup Design Sarah Cimino
Creative Consultation Services Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin
Music Producer Matt Stine

Awards & Nominations

  • Carmen Pavlovic and Bill Damaschke in formal attire holding Tony Awards, standing in front of a backdrop featuring repeated Tony Awards and CBS logos; one wears a black tuxedo with a bow tie, the other a black suit with a white shirt.

    Credit Cindy Ord

  • The West End cast and producers of Moulin Rouge! The Musical posing outside a grand classical building at the Olivier Awards, gathered on steps and grass with trees and lighting in the background.

    Credit Pamela Raith

  • Cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical in the Netherlands on stage accepting an award

    Credit Wesley Monsuur

  • Credit Morris Mac Matzen

Winner – Best Musical
Winner – Best Direction of a Musical Alex Timbers
Winner – Best Choreography Sonya Tayeh
Winner – Best Orchestrations Justin Levine with Matt Stine, Katie Kresek and Charlie Rosen
Winner – Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Aaron Tveit
Winner – Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Danny Burstein
Winner – Best Scenic Design in a Musical Derek McLane
Winner – Best Costume Design in a Musical Catherine Zuber
Winner – Best Lighting Design in a Musical Justin Townsend
Winner – Best Sound Design of a Musical Peter Hylenski
Nominated for Best Book of a Musical John Logan
Nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Karen Olivo
Nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Robin Hurder
Nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Sahr Ngaujah
Winner – Best Costume Design Catherine Zuber
Nominated for Best New Musical
Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical Clive Carter (Zidler)
Nominated for Best Theatre Choreographer Sonya Tayeh
Nominated for Best Set Design Derek McLane
Winner – Outstanding Choreography Sonya Tayeh
Winner – Outstanding Set Design of a Musical Derek McLane
Winner – Outstanding Costume Design of A Musical Catherine Zuber
Winner – Outstanding Lighting Design of A Musical Justin Townsend
Winner – Outstanding Sound Design of A Musical Peter Hylenski
Winner – Outstanding Production of A Musical 
Winner – Distinguished Performance Award Danny Burstein
Nominated for a Distinguished Performance Award Karen Olivo
Nominated for Best Musical Theatre Album

 

Outstanding New Broadway Musical 
Outstanding Director of a Musical Alex Timbers
Outstanding Choreography Sonya Tayeh
Outstanding Orchestrations Justin Levine With Matt Stein, Katie Kresek, And Charlie Rosen
Outstanding Actress in a Musical Karen Olivo
Outstanding Actor in a Musical Aaron Tveit
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Danny Burstein
Outstanding Scenic Design (Play or Musical) Derek McLane
Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) Catherine Zuber
Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) Justin Townsend
Outstanding Sound Design (Play or Musical) Peter Hylenski
Nominated for Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show Sonya Tayeh
Nominated for Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show
Nominated for Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show Robyn Hurder
Winner – Best New Musical
Winner – Best Set Design Derek McLane
Winner – Best Costume Design Catherine Zuber
Winner – Best Sound Design Peter Hylenski
Winner – Best Supporting Actor Danny Burstein (Zidler)
Winner – Best Music Director Cian McCarthy
Winner – Best Musical Best Musical
Nominated for Best Actor Aaron Tveit
Nominated for Best Actress Karen Olivo
Nominated for Best Lighting Design Justin Townsend
Nominated for Best Director – Musical Alex Timbers
Nominated for Best Choreography Sonya Tayeh
Nominated for Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show
Nominated for Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show Sonya Tayeh
Nominated for Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show Robyn Hurder
Nominated for Best New Musical
Nominated for Best Musical Direction Alex Timbers
Nominated for Best Choreography Sonya Tayeh
Nominated for Best Sound Design Peter Hylenski
Nominated for Best Set Design Derek McLane
Nominated for Best Costume Design Catherine Zuber
Nominated for Best Lighting Design Justin Townsend
Winner – Best New Production of a Musical
Winner – Best Choreography of a New Production of a Play or Musical Sonya Tayeh
Winner – Best Costume Design of a New Production of a Play or Musical Catherine Zuber
Winner – Best Direction of a New Production of a Musical Alex Timbers
Winner – Best Musical Direction of a New Production of a Play or Musical James McKeon
Winner – Best Supporting Performer in a New Production of a Musical Zoe Birkett (Arabia)
Nominated for Best Lighting Design of a New Production of a Play or Musical Justin Townsend
Nominated for Best Performance By An Understudy/Alternate in Any Play or Musical Adam Gillian (Christian Alternate)
Nominated for Best Set Design of a New Production of a Play or Musical Derek McLane
Nominated for Best Sound Design of a New Production of a Play or Musical Peter Hylenski
Winner – Best Musical
Winner – Best Performance in a Supporting Role Simon Burke
Winner – Musical of the Year
Winner – Ticket of the Year 
Winner – Outstanding Production
Winner – Best Hair, Wig and Make-Up Design David Brian Brown, Sarah Cimino
Winner – Technical Direction Richard Martin
Nominated for Best Supporting Actor Simon Burke AO
Nominated for Best Picture 
Nominated for Best Actor Award (Female) Ivy (Satine)
Nominated for Best Leading Role (Male)   Kwangho Hong (Christian)
Nominated for Ensemble Award
Winner – Best Ensemble
Winner – Best Choreography Sonya Tayeh
Winner – Best Costume Design Catherine Zuber
Winner – Best Set Design Derek McLane
Winner – Best Male Lead Martijn Noort (Christan)
Nominated for Best Musical
Nominated for Best Supporting Actor Carlo Bosshard (Harold Zidler)
Nominated for Best Supporting Actress Rosanne Reebergen (Nini)
Nominated for Best Ensemble
Nominated for Best Direction Alex Timbers
Nominated for Best Lighting Design Justin Townsend
Nominated for Best Musical Audience Award 
VIEW ALL GLOBAL CREATURES AWARDS

Gallery

Scene from Moulin Rouge! The Musical Japan during “Backstage Romance,” featuring performers in vibrant theatrical costumes posed dramatically under stage lighting.
Scene from Moulin Rouge! The Musical World Tour during “Elephant Love Medley,” with two main characters beside a central Eiffel Tower structure, one holding a sparkly umbrella, under starry lights and a glowing “L’amour” sign.
A dramatic moment from 'El Tango de Roxanne' in Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Germany). A performer in a striking red costume is lifted into the air by several ensemble members. The stage is dimly lit, with dark tones and architectural elements visible on the left, enhancing the intensity and passion of the scene.
The West End Christian and Satine smiling as they in Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Scene from Moulin Rouge! The Musical Australia, with Satine performing “The Sparkling Diamond” in a glittering outfit, surrounded by tuxedoed dancers and a radiant heart-shaped backdrop.
'Chandelier' scene from Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Korea). Four performers stand together under green lighting, appearing to hold or examine a bottle of Absinthe. Behind them, draped fabric and a large neon sign reading “L’amour” in red cursive letters create a romantic and moody backdrop.
Scene from Moulin Rouge! The Musical's North American Tour, with dancers in colorful costumes performing on an ornate stage featuring a neon “MOULIN ROUGE” sign and heart-shaped backdrop.
Credit Matt Crockett, Evan Zimmerman, Matthew Murphy, Johan Perrson, and Michelle Grace Hunder

Social Responsibility

The Bohemian Project

Launched in 2019 on Broadway, The Bohemian Project is Global Creatures’ flagship community initiative inspired by the core values of Moulin Rouge! The Musical of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love.

  • Bohemian Project Logo

Designed to give back to the communities where the show performs, the initiative champions emerging artists, supports local creatives, and fosters inclusive access to the arts. Through a combination of industry development, accessibility programs for people with disabilities, and outreach to underrepresented groups, The Bohemian Project aims to build a more equitable and vibrant theatrical landscape. Today, the initiative runs across many Moulin Rouge! The Musical productions worldwide — including in the UK, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, and North America.

Here, each Bohemian Value is reflected as a core pillar, guiding our actions and shaping the project’s goals and activities. These pillars ensure that The Bohemian Project remains aligned with the heart of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, allowing our values to inform strategies that bring meaningful change to the communities we support.

Truth Social Justice
Beauty
 		Arts Education
Freedom Workforce Development
Love Community Development

Industry Development

One of the core pillars of The Bohemian Project is industry and workforce development, a commitment to nurturing the next generation of theatre professionals and strengthening the global performing arts ecosystem.

Recognising the growing gaps in industry skills and workforce sustainability, Global Creatures has introduced a range of targeted initiatives across its Moulin Rouge! The Musical productions in Australia, West End, Broadway and the World Tour. Our licensee partner ATG in Germany has also launched the first Get Techncial! in Cologne.

These programs are designed to bridge access, build capacity and create pathways for emerging talent in areas such as technical production, stage management, design and performance. Some of the initiatives we have rolled out around the world include:

Get Technical! - Behind the Curtain of Moulin Rouge! The Musical An event that provides a behind-the-scenes look into the backstage world of the production, with live demonstrations from a range of technical departments such as automation, lighting, wigs, sound, wardrobe, and props. This event premiered in Australia under the leadership of General Manager Dawn Martin and has since rolled out in the West End, Broadway, Cologne and on the World Tour.
Get Technical Academy A free 10-week program for 15–25 year-olds, offering hands-on training with industry professionals across lighting, sound, automation, stage management, and stage crew operations, created in partnership with ATG Entertainment and West End Creative Learning.
Get Musical! - Behind the Baton of Moulin Rouge! The Musical In partnership with Maestra Music, this program provides women and nonbinary musicians with hands-on experience in the orchestra pit of a Tony Award-winning musical, both on Broadway and the North American Tour.
Industry Events & Workshops A broad program of industry-focused activities — including post-show talkbacks, dance and performance workshops, and theatre open days — designed to make professional insights accessible to a wider audience by removing cost barriers.
Load-in Experience A unique opportunity for students to take part in the load-in stage of our productions, gaining practical, real-world experience during set installations and technical rehearsals.
Backstage Tours Exclusive opportunities for audiences and aspiring professionals to step behind the scenes, through guided backstage tours and shadowing experiences with technical crew.

Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess, glitz, grandeur, and glory! Step into the electrifying enchantment of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, where bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in a spectacular theatrical celebration.

Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage in a breathtaking musical mash-up extravaganza. Part nightclub, part dance hall, part dreamscape, this dazzling production features 70 iconic songs from over 160 years of music history, blending Offenbach to Lady Gaga in a symphony of spectacle.

Directed by Tony Award-winner Alex Timbers, with a book by Tony Award-winner John Logan, music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tony Award-winner Justin Levine, and choreography by Tony Award-winner Sonya Tayeh, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is more than a show—it’s a state of mind. A celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and—above all—Love!

  • Alinta Chidzey and Des Flanagan as Satine and Christian in Moulin Rouge! The Musical Australia performing 'Come What May'

    Credit Michelle Grace Hunder

Story

KEY DATES

2009

 Global Creatures co-founders Gerry Ryan OAM and Carmen Pavlovic had lunch with Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin to discuss getting the rights to MOULIN ROUGE!

2015

 Alex Timbers officially joined the production as the rights negotiations continued in the background.

2016

 After seven years of negotiations across three continents, Global Creatures formally obtained all the rights necessary to produce the stage adaptation. News of the musical was made public the same year, with John Logan, Justin Levine and Sonya Tayeh joining the creative team. There were a series of early meetings with John Logan and Justin Levine to refine the concept and produce a demo arrangement working with producer Matt Stine.

2017

 There were six weeks of workshopping to refine the production. The workshops included many of the actors who would end up being integral to the Broadway show – Aaron Tveit, Karen Olivo, Sahr Ngaujah, Tam Mutu, and Robyn Hurder.

2018

 On 3 August, the Boston production officially opened, marking the very first full staging of the musical for audiences.

2019

 Finally, after ten years since we first approached Baz for the rights to the production, Moulin Rouge! The Musical had its Broadway premiere on 25 July.

2021

 After navigating various COVID obstacles, Moulin Rouge! The Musical returned home to where it began in Australia, with the tour officially opening on 12 November in Melbourne at the Regent Theatre. London’s West End celebrated its official opening on 8 December, introducing UK audiences to the musical for the first time.

2022

 The North American Tour officially launched on 19 March, followed by the German production on 6 November, marking the first licensed international staging. The Korean production followed shortly after, opening on 20 December and cementing the show as a truly global phenomenon.

2023

 While the production continued to play around the world, Japan joined the global Moulin Rouge! The Musical community on 29 June.

2024

 After a triumphant three-and-a-half years of touring, the Australian tour closed on 4 February. The Netherlands production officially opened on 19 September.

2025

 The World Tour production opened on 30 April in Edinburgh, marking a new chapter in the musical’s global journey.

Latest News

View all news
Get Technical! Inspiring the Next Generation of Theatre Professionals in Birmingham
November 11 2025
READ MORE
Introducing our Spectacular 5th Year London Cast on Moulin Rouge! The Musical
September 3 2025
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Casting Announced for the World Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical
March 12 2025
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Watch the West End Perform ‘The Sparkling Diamond’ on Dancing On Ice
February 26 2025
by Moulin Rouge! The Musical West End
READ MORE
The cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Dancing on Ice. They wear their costumes from 'The Sparkling Diamond' scene which consists of sparkly corsets for the women, and sleeveless suits and vests with top hats for the men.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical Celebrates 5 Years on Broadway
August 12 2024
by Variety
READ MORE
Scene from Moulin Rouge! The Musical Broadway during “Elephant Love Medley,” with two main characters beside a central Eiffel Tower structure, one holding a sparkly umbrella, under starry lights and a glowing “L’amour” sign.
Edinburgh Welcomes Moulin Rouge! The Musical
May 16 2024
READ MORE
Moulin Rouge! The Musical World Tour Announced For 2025
April 16 2024
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