| Almost Famous | |
|---|---|
| The Musical | |
 Broadway promotional poster | |
| Music | Tom Kitt |
| Lyrics |
|
| Book | Cameron Crowe |
| Basis | Almost Famous by Cameron Crowe |
| Premiere | September 27, 2019:The Old Globe,San Diego |
| Productions | |
Almost Famous is a 2019stage musical with music byTom Kitt, lyrics byCameron Crowe and Kitt, and a book by Crowe. It is based on the2000 film of the same name written and directed by Crowe.
Loosely based on Crowe's life, the musical follows a teenager who becomes a journalist forRolling Stone magazine in the 1970s. The show debuted inSan Diego atThe Old Globe in 2019, withpreviews beginning on September 13 and apremiere on September 27. It ran through October 27.[1] Creative work continued during theCOVID-19 shutdown.[2][3] Like the film, the musical begins in the San Diego, home of the Miller family, progresses to theSan Francisco offices ofRolling Stone, and then travels through the United States on tour with the fictional band Stillwater.[4]
TheBroadway production began previews on October 3, 2022, and opened November 3, 2022 at theBernard B. Jacobs Theatre to mainly negative reviews.[5][6] On December 19, it was announced that the show would close on January 8, 2023, after 30 previews and 77 performances.[7] Critics thought the story didn't perform well on stage.The New York Times said the show was “too faithful to the movie to feel new, yet too staged to feel authentic.” Viewers also complained that the score lacked originality and memorability, but despite the poor reception, it received a nomination forBest Original Score at the76th Tony Awards.[8]
In November 2023, Kitt and Crowe reworkedAlmost Famous during a residency at theEugene O'Neill Theater Center inWaterford, Connecticut. Public readings of the workshop were given on November 11, 15, and 18.[9] The workshop has not yet received public reviews.
| Character | San Diego[10] | Broadway[11] | O'Neill Center Reading1[12] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| William Miller | Casey Likes | Brayden Bambino | |
| Penny Lane | Solea Pfeiffer | Lola Tung | |
| Russell Hammond | Colin Donnell | Chris Wood | Alex Boniello |
| Elaine Miller | Anika Larsen | ||
| Jeff Bebe | Drew Gehling | Damon Daunno | |
| Lester Bangs | Rob Colletti | ||
| Anita Miller | Emily Schultheis | Katy Geraghty | |
| Sapphire | Katie Ladner | ||
| David Felton | Van Hughes | ||
| Estrella | Julia Cassandra | ||
| Polexia | Storm Lever | Jana Djenne Jackson | |
| Darryl | Daniel Sovich | Blaine Alden Krauss | |
| Silent Ed | Brandon Contreras | ||
| Dick Roswell | Gerard Canonico | ||
| Larry Fellows | Matt Bittner | Kelvin Moon Loh | |
| Ben Fong-Torres | Matthew C. Yee | ||
| Vic Nettles | Chad Burris | ||
| Dennis Hope | Sam Gravitte | Jakeim Hart | Chad Burris |
| Leslie | Libby Winters | Julia Cassandra | |
1Reading was presented with a cast of 13, with most actors playing multiple roles.
Source: Playbill[13]
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†Not on Original Broadway Cast Recording
‡Written for the film byNancy Wilson
+Included as bonus track on cast album, along with "Anything's Possible" sung by Solea Pfeiffer
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score | Tom Kitt andCameron Crowe | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Awards[14] | Outstanding Music | Tom Kitt, AnnMarie Milazzo(vocal designer) | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical | Peter Hylenski | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Wig and Hair | Campbell Young Associates | Nominated | ||
| Theatre World Award[15] | Casey Likes | Honoree | ||
