| Back to the Future: The Musical | |
| Music: | Alan Silvestri |
| Lyrics: | Glen Ballard |
| Basis: | Back to the Future by Bob Gale Robert Zemeckis |
| Premiere Location: | Manchester Opera House |
| Productions: | 2020 Manchester 2021 West End 2023 Broadway 2024 North American Tour |
| Awards: | Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical |
Back to the Future: The Musical is a musical with music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard and a book by Bob Gale. It is adapted from the 1985 film Back to the Future by Robert Zemeckis and Gale. The show features original music, as well as songs featured in the film ("The Power of Love", "Earth Angel", "Johnny B. Goode" and "Back in Time").[1]
The musical originally was slated to première in London's West End in 2015,[2] the year to which the film trilogy's characters traveled in Part II. However, a change in directors resulted in a delay in the production.[3] The musical received its premiere at Manchester Opera House in February 2020, ahead of a 2021 West End transfer. It starred Olly Dobson as Marty McFly and Roger Bart as "Doc" Brown, with Hugh Coles as George McFly. The production received positive reviews in London and won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2022.
The musical began previews on Broadway in June and opened in August 2023. Bart and Coles reprise their roles, and Casey Likes plays Marty. A North American tour began in June 2024.
The movie and its two sequels were box office successes, taking in over $936 million at the box office.[4] In the United Kingdom, the popularity of the film Back to the Future had been boosted by its television broadcasts on Christmas or Boxing Day for several years starting in 1988.[5]
At a 2004 DeLorean convention, Bob Gale said that he was interested in adapting Back to the Future for Broadway.[6] In 2012, a musical adaption of the 1985 film Back to the Future began development[7] leading to the exploration of an adaptation.[8] Workshops for the musical took place in 2014 in July in London and the following month in Los Angeles, with the intention to open the show in the West End in 2015,[9] in time for the 30th anniversary of the film.[10]
Jamie Lloyd was initially engaged to direct the production[11] but withdrew from the project in September 2014 after the workshops, citing creative differences.[12] Bob Gale later recalled that those creative differences were over whether the character Biff should sing: "[Lloyd] thought that a villain would be more villainous if he didn't sing. For me, that was the dealbreaker".[13] Lloyd's withdrawal from the production was expected to delay the premiere until at least 2016, and a new director was sought.[14] Others who had left the creative team included Soutra Gilmour as scenic designer[15]
In Hill Valley, California, October 25, 1985 ("Overture"), Marty McFly visits scientist Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown's house and finds a pre-recorded message, playing on a large amplifier, asking Marty to meet him in the parking lot of Twin Pines Mall after midnight. After destroying the amplifier while playing his electric guitar, Marty walks through town and dreams about being a successful rock artist. A man named Goldie Wilson is running for mayor ("It's Only a Matter of Time").
When Marty's band audition is rejected ("Got No Future"), Marty's girlfriend, Jennifer Parker, comforts him ("Wherever We're Going") but they are interrupted by fundraisers for the restoration of the town's clock tower, which was damaged by lightning in 1955. Marty, with a flyer on the clocktower in hand, heads home to find his father George being harassed by his boss, Biff Tannen. George discourages Marty from chasing big dreams, his brother Dave explains his job at a burger restaurant and his mother, Lorraine McFly, discourages his sister, Linda, from dating and talks about how she first met George and kissed him at a school dance as Marty laments his family's state ("Hello, Is Anybody Home?").
At the Twin Pines Mall parking lot, Marty meets Doc who unveils a time machine made from a DeLorean and explains how he built it ("It Works"). However, due to inadequate protection while loading plutonium into the car's reactor, Doc is afflicted by acute radiation poisoning and is dying. Marty jumps in the car to seek medical help but accidentally accelerates to, sending him back in time to the day Doc conceptualised time travel in 1955. Ditching the car in a barn, Marty wanders to the town square where the citizens of Hill Valley celebrate the town ("Cake"). Marty witnesses his teenage father being threatened by Biff and his gang ("Got No Future" (reprise)) and tells him to stand up for himself. When he accidentally reveals then-diner employee Goldie will become Mayor of Hill Valley, Goldie is inspired and encourages George to also increase his self-esteem ("Gotta Start Somewhere"). Marty later finds George spying on teenage Lorraine from a tree ("My Myopia") but is knocked unconscious when George falls. Hours later, Marty wakes up in Lorraine's bedroom, where he is being cared for. Lorraine falls for Marty who tries to fend off her advances ("Pretty Baby").
Marty finds his way to Doc's house and convinces a younger Doc that he came from 1985 by revealing his knowledge about Doc's Flux Capacitor. Finding the car, Doc worries that Marty will be stuck in 1955 forever. As Marty despairs ("Future Boy"), Doc states that a bolt of lightning could power the time machine, and from the information on Marty's flyer, they plan how to use the lightning bolt. Marty tells Doc he encountered both of his parents; realizing Marty's future existence is in jeopardy, Doc instructs him to avoid meeting anyone from history and make sure George and Lorraine fall in love. The next day, they infiltrate Hill Valley High School ("Hill Valley High School Fight Song"), where Marty encourages George to ask Lorraine out to the school's upcoming dance. George tries to follow Marty's advice but runs afoul of Biff, forcing Marty to intervene. As Marty and George are chased around the campus, Lorraine tells her friends about the boy she tended to, while Biff and his gang hear rumors about Marty and plot to get rid of him. Marty fends off Biff, inadvertently awing Lorraine further ("Something About That Boy").
Doc Brown dreams of the social, technological, economic, and political advances of the future ("21st Century"), waking up as Lorraine invites Marty to the school dance to which Marty reluctantly accepts ("Something About That Boy" (reprise)). Marty visits George to boost his self confidence and dance abilities in preparation for the dance ("Put Your Mind to It"), running through the plan for George to win over Lorraine as well.
As he plans to use a wire running from the clocktower to send the lightning to the DeLorean, Doc recalls how some scientists throughout history became famous, while others failed to fulfil their goals ("For the Dreamers"). Meanwhile, Biff and his gang learn of Marty's attendance at the upcoming dance and plot to beat him up ("Teach Him a Lesson"). On the night of the dance, Doc thanks Marty for giving him hope for his future; Marty secretly writes a letter to warn him of his death in 1985, despite being warned of the harm from disclosing future events. Marty reflects on his only chance to return to the future, while thinking of Jennifer back in 1985 for inspiration ("Only a Matter of Time" (reprise)).
During the school dance ("Deep Divin'"), Lorraine advances on Marty ("Pretty Baby" (reprise)) before Biff locks him in a nearby dumpster and assaults Lorraine. Biff overpowers an arriving George, but George defeats him in one punch. As George escorts a grateful Lorraine to the dance, singer Marvin Berry and his band, on a smoke break, free Marty from the dumpster. Marvin's fingers are accidentally clamped by the closing lid. Knowing music will be needed for George and Lorraine to kiss, Marty volunteers to play guitar instead. The band plays "Earth Angel" as George and Lorraine kiss, saving Marty's existence. On Marvin's request for another song, Marty performs "Johnny B. Goode", but his guitar solo stuns the crowd.
After bidding farewell to George and Lorraine, Marty leaves the dance to meet Doc who explains that high winds disconnected the upper cables and that he would have to reconnect them despite his fear of heights. Marty gives his letter to Doc who destroys it, worried about the consequences. Doc faces his fear and the storm to connect the wires ("For the Dreamers" (reprise)), while Marty drives the DeLorean, inserts the electric hook and accelerates to 88 miles per hour as the lightning strikes and sends him back to October 26, 1985. However, upon arrival, the car shuts down, preventing Marty from bringing Doc to the hospital. As Marty grieves over failing to save Doc, Doc appears, revealing that he pieced the letter back together and wore a better protective suit. He thanks Marty and bids him goodbye before departing to the future in the DeLorean. Marty sleeps in the courthouse square.
The following morning, Marty discovers his father is now a renowned science fiction author with an annual celebration named after him, his family is more professionally and socially successful, and a timid Biff is in George's employ. At the celebration, the McFlys present the town with a check to restore the clock tower. As Marty and his band perform "The Power of Love" and the whole town joins in, Doc suddenly returns in the upgraded DeLorean, insisting Marty come with him to see the future. Marty hops in, and Doc sets the car's destination date to the exact time and date of the musical's current performance. The DeLorean takes off and flies overhead, and into the future ("Finale").
The musical began previews on 20 February, with an opening night on 11 March 2020, after the five year delay,[16] at the Manchester Opera House.[17] The production was directed by John Rando,[18] with choreography by Chris Bailey,[19] set and costume design by Tim Hatley,[20] video design by Finn Ross, lighting by Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone, sound design by Gareth Owen[21]
Only a few days after the official opening, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Manchester Opera House closed on 16 March 2020. The show did not reopen until it transferred to the West End.[22]
The production transferred to the Adelphi Theatre in the West End, where it opened on 13 September 2021 with the same cast and creative team.[23] In 2022, the original cast album was released.[24] The production was nominated for seven Laurence Olivier Awards that year, including Best New Musical which it won, as well as Best Original Score or New Orchestrations.[25] The run is expected to continue until at least July 2025.[26]
The musical began previews on Broadway on 30 June 2023, at the Winter Garden Theatre, and opened officially on 3 August. The production has the same creative team as the original West End production. Roger Bart and Hugh Coles from the original London cast return in the roles of Doc Brown and George McFly, respectively, with Casey Likes as Marty McFly; the cast also includes Merritt David Janes as Strickland, Liana Hunt as Lorraine, Jelani Remy as Goldie Wilson/Marvin Berry, Nathaniel Hackmann as Biff and Mikaela Secada as Jennifer.[27] The production received two nominations at the 77th Tony Awards: Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Bart) and Best Scenic Design of a Musical.[28]
A North American tour opened at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 14, 2024, following preview performances, which began on June 6 at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, New York.[29] [30] Don Stephenson and Caden Brauch lead the tour as Doc Brown and Marty McFly respectively.[31] The tour is scheduled to continue through August 2025, ending at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[32]
A production is planned to open in April 2025 at the Shiki Theatre in Tokyo, Japan.[33]
See also: List of Back to the Future characters.
| Character | Manchester[34] | West End | Broadway | North American Tour[35] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2021 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Marty McFly | Olly Dobson | Casey Likes | Caden Brauch | ||
| "Doc" Brown | Roger Bart | Don Stephenson | |||
| George McFly | Hugh Coles | Burke Swanson | |||
| Lorraine Baines-McFly | Rosanna Hyland | Liana Hunt | Zan Berube | ||
| Goldie Wilson / Marvin Berry | Cedric Neal | Jelani Remy | Cartreze Tucker | ||
| Biff Tannen | Aidan Cutler | Nathaniel Hackmann | Ethan Rogers | ||
| Jennifer Parker | Courtney-Mae Briggs | Mikaela Secada | Kiara Lee | ||
| Principal Strickland/Mayor Red Thomas | Mark Oxtoby | Merritt David Janes[36] | Luke Antony Neville | ||
| Dave McFly/Slick | Will Haswell | Daryl Tofa | Fisher Lane Stewart | ||
| Linda McFly | Emma Lloyd | Amber Ardolino | Laura Sky Herman | ||
| 3D | Shane O'Riordan | Will Branner | Will Jewett | ||
| Clocktower Woman/Spokeswoman | Katharine Pearson | Jonalyn Saxer | Jenny Dalrymple | ||
# Not included in the Original Cast Recording
% Song cut from the original West End production
The Back to the Future website announced on October 21, 2020 ("Back to the Future Day") that a cast recording of the West End production would be released by Sony's Masterworks Broadway imprint.[39] The announcement was accompanied by the release of Olly Dobson's rendition of "Back in Time", which was featured in the first film and its soundtrack, in addition to the original track "Put Your Mind to It". The cast recording was released on March 11, 2022.[40]
A Deluxe Edition of the cast recording album was released on October 20, 2023. This album includes a second disc of 13 demo versions of songs written for the musical.[41]
The Guardian reported that fans of the franchise gave the Manchester tryout positive reviews, with one commenting that it's "a wonderful tribute to the film" and another that "people are going to be talking about this for a long time".[42] The show received a generally positive critical reception upon its West End opening.[43] [44] [45] [46] [47] The production design received widespread praise, and the performances of Bart, Dobson, Coles and Neal were reviewed positively.
The Broadway production received more mixed reviews.[48] Frank Rizzo of Variety wrote, "with the frequent breaking of the fourth wall and the milking of some meta moments, you wonder what exactly the show’s aiming to be: a self-aware joke for fans or a thrill ride with sincerity".[49] Jesse Green of The New York Times stated, "though large, it's less a full-scale new work than a semi-operable souvenir".[50] Most of the critical praise was given to the technical aspects, especially scenes featuring the DeLorean.[48]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Laurence Olivier Award[51] | Best New Musical | ||
| Best Original Score or New Orchestrations | Glen Ballard, Bryan Crook, Ethan Popp and Alan Silvestri | |||
| Best Actor in a Musical | Olly Dobson | |||
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Hugh Coles | |||
| Best Set Design | Tim Hatley and Finn Ross | |||
| Best Lighting Design | Tim Lutkin | |||
| Best Sound Design | Gareth Owen | |||
| WhatsOnStage Award | Best New Musical | |||
| Best Performer in a Male Identifying Role in a Musical | Roger Bart | |||
| Olly Dobson | ||||
| Best Supporting Performer in a Male Identifying Role in a Musical | Hugh Coles | |||
| Cedric Neal | ||||
| Best Set Design | Tim Hatley | |||
| Best Lighting Design | Tim Lutkin | |||
| Best Sound Design | Gareth Owen | |||
| Best Video Design | Finn Ross | |||
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards[52] | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical | Casey Likes | |
| Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical | Roger Bart | |||
| Outstanding Lighting Design (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone | |||
| Outstanding Sound Design (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Gareth Owen | |||
| Outstanding Video/Projections (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Finn Ross | |||
| Tony Awards[53] | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Roger Bart | ||
| Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Tim Hatley and Finn Ross |