A Musical About Star Wars
2019 is a big year for Star Wars fans. A new movie, Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge…and a musical? A Musical About Star Wars is set to make a splash off-Broadway at Theatre Row on May 4, and it’s sure to be a meta-celebration of all that fans love from the iconic franchise.
The production is the brainchild of Tom D’Angora and stars Taylor Crousore, Scott Richard Foster, and Emily McNamara. We spoke with Tom about his inspiration behind the re-imagining of one of the greatest movies of all time and what fans can expect from this musical interpretation.
Read on for our exclusive interview with Tom D’Angora of A Musical About Star Wars below:
A Musical About Star Wars is based on one of the most popular and well-known franchises around. What inspired you to re-imagine it as a musical?
Tom D’Angora: One of our co-writers (and star of the show) Scott Foster was starring in the ever-changing hit show NEWSical the Musical, which I also produce. He had an idea for a Star Wars number about the fandom and I agreed to let him try it out. The number was such a success, I thought we should do a whole show based on the awesome fandom that surrounds the franchise. We then brought on another NEWSical cast member and Star Wars superfan Taylor Crousore to co-write and co-star in the show. It was so fun to write; revisiting the canon and being consistently immersed in the genius of George Lucas was beyond epic and amazing.
Did your interest in and familiarity with Star Wars help when it came to building the nuances of the play and integrating all those inside jokes that the audience is sure to love?
Absolutely! Scott and Taylor who co-wrote the show with me and also star in it are SUPER FANS, and I was a huge fan growing up, so everything is based on real-life fandom. For example, in the play, the character of Scott is over-the-top obsessed with Boba Fett. Real-life Scott is just as obsessed with Boba Fett as his on stage persona! The show is packed with Star Wars jokes and references.
What would you say viewers can expect from this musical? Do you have any favorite scenes or parts of the show that you are most excited for patrons to see?
Hopefully audience members can see little bits of themselves in the characters. I think the Star Wars franchise has had a huge impact on so many people in so many different ways that hopefully each audience member will have their own takeaway from the show. This isn’t a parody of Star Wars and we are not retelling the story; we are celebrating why it is the greatest thing to ever happen in the history of the galaxy. I’m excited for audiences to see it all, but especially what we do with the prequels. It’s a crowd-pleaser.
A Musical About Star Wars
Do you feel like what you had to work with in terms of budget and cast size made you get even more creative and have fun with that live show element?
Absolutely! We do over 30 costume changes in 90 minutes on an off-Broadway budget. We had to be very creative and have a lot of fun with it all, but I wouldn’t change the outcome for anything. I love the costumes and props we have come up with. They are hilarious and perfect for the show.
How has the fan support been for the project so far?
Overwhelmingly supportive. It is the coolest thing to hear the fans respond to the material. We encourage feedback and we take it very seriously. When it’s all said and done, we want this to be a show that fans love and [that makes them] feel like they were well represented.
The off-Broadway run is appropriately set to open on May the 4th (be with you!), and this is an exciting time for Star Wars fans for many reasons! Are you excited for everything else that’s on the horizon, including new movies and Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge?
We are all still reeling from the Rise of Skywalker trailer! OMG, the Emperor’s laugh at the end!!!! #IKnowThatLaugh… Also, Disney announced that at least one episode of The Mandalorian will be streamed in the fall when Disney+ launches, so that is rad!
If someone were considering coming to see the show, what would you say to convince them?
The show is really funny. It’s a musical comedy where two SUPER FANS try to convince a naysayer that Star Wars is the greatest thing to ever happen in the history of the galaxy, and they do so in the most ridiculous ways possible. Most importantly, it’s created by fans for fans.
Thanks so much to Tom D’Angora for taking the time to answer some questions for us!
A Musical About Star Wars is a show-within-a-show. Created by Tom D’Angora and written by Tom D’Angora, Taylor Crousore, and Scott Richard Foster, the musical features an original score and lyrics by Billy Recce. Additional creative team includes Michael D’Angora (director), Alex Ringler (choreography) Brendan McCann (production designer and costumes), William Bailey (costumes), Lindsay Green (lighting design), and Ed Goldschneider (music director).
For more information about A Musical About Star Wars, be sure to visit AMusicalAboutStarWars.com.
A Musical About Star Wars is currently in previews with an official opening date of May 4. Grab your light sabers, use the force, come to the Dark Side, etc., and get your tickets ASAP!
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