Although Britney Spears has stated that she is stepping down from music now that her hotly contested conservatorship is over, it appears that she will be able to add one more accomplishment to her extensive collection: having her most iconic songs showcased on Broadway, an honor that has been granted on other phenomenal and gifted musicians such as Tina Turner, Alanis Morissette, and The Go Go’s.
Forget karaoke and cramped clubs, New Yorkers. Instead, you might find yourself in an actual Broadway theater the next time you belt out Britney Spears’ hit songs.
Once Upon A One More Time
When the musical “Once Upon A One More Time” was officially confirmed in 2019, Britney Spears expressed her delight to Playbill. “I’m so excited to have a musical with my songs – especially one that takes place in such a magical world filled with characters that I grew up with, who I love and adore,” she added. “This is a dream come true for me!” Unfortunately, the show was postponed until 2020 and then indefinitely due to the pandemic.
While it is true that the pop star is not involved in the creation, her music will now serve as the theme song for the new Broadway show. The jukebox musical has revealed its Broadway debut, with previews starting in May ahead of its June 22, 2023, debut at the Marquis Theatre.
The musical is divided into two acts, each featuring characters from the production singing a few of Britney Spears’ most popular tracks from her career. And, while the songs aren’t performed in any particular order, they include both old and new songs.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Spears’ catalog has been reimagined for the Broadway stage; her music is too influential and loved. For example, the Broadway jukebox musical &Juliet, which includes “Baby One More Time” and “Stronger,” delves into a story where Juliet survives at the end of Romeo & Juliet and honors one of Spears’ writing collaborators and producers, Max Martin.
What Exactly is the Plot of the Britney Spears Musical?
Oh, baby, baby, your beloved fairy-tale icons are turning the pages, fueled by the chart-topping hits of Britney Spears, the irrefutable Princess of Pop. Once Upon a One More Time shapes Britney Spears’ classic hits into a “clever and uproarious” original piece that demonstrates there’s more to life than looking for a prince.
The broadway musical’s original story, written by Jon Hartmere, focuses on classic fairy tale characters such as Snow White, Cinderella, and the Little Mermaid who assemble for book club and read the same book, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, the only book they have ever known. Their ritual is disrupted when a rogue fairy godmother drops Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique into their corseted laps. It’s the most significant revisionist fairy tale that will make you feel better than you did the day before.
The People Behind the Production
Once Upon a One More Time is produced by Tony Award winners Hunter Arnold and James L. Nederlander. It is directed and choreographed by Keone & Mari Madrid, a wedded combo chosen for Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Choreography and Unique Theatrical Experience for Beyond Babel. They also choreographed for Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Flying Lotus, Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, the Broadway-bound The Karate Kid musical, and Disney’s animated short Us Again.
The remaining creative team includes Tony Award-nominated scenic designer Anna Fleischle, five-time Tony Award nominee David Leveaux as creative consultant, costume and hair designer Loren Elstein, sound designer Andrew Keister, Tony Award-nominated projection designer Sven Ortel, and Tony Award-winning lighting designer Kenneth Posner.
The cast will be disclosed at a later date. For tickets info click here.
