| Once | |
|---|---|
 Broadway promotional poster | |
| Music | Glen Hansard Markéta Irglová |
| Lyrics | Glen Hansard Markéta Irglová |
| Book | Enda Walsh |
| Basis | Once byJohn Carney |
| Premiere | 2011:New York Theatre Workshop |
| Productions | 2011Off-Broadway 2012Broadway 2013West End 2013 US Tour 2016 US Tour 2019 UK Tour 2019Buenos Aires 2019 US Tour 2023São Paulo |
| Awards | Tony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music |
Once is amusical based on the 2007film of the same name byJohn Carney. Like the film, music and lyrics were byGlen Hansard andMarkéta Irglová, including theAcademy Award-winning "Falling Slowly". The book for the musical was written byEnda Walsh. The musical premiered at theNew York Theatre Workshop in 2011, before transferring toBroadway in 2012. The production received eleven 2012Tony Award nominations, and won eight includingBest Musical,Best Actor andBest Book. The musical also won the 2012Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical and the 2013Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. It has since spawned a London production, with a North American Tour which started on 1 October 2013.In the musical, the cast also serves as the orchestra. Aminimalist set is used, including a bar in center stage with chairs lining stage left and right. Exiting cast members simply step to the side of the stage and sit down. They serve as the orchestra from these chairs. The bar is used before the show and at intermission as a working bar for theater patrons.[1]
Once premiered in a workshop at theAmerican Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA, in April 2011, before its transfer toNew York Theatre Workshop where it made itsOff-Broadway debut on 6 December 2011, following previews from 15 November, on a run through 15 January 2012. Under the direction ofJohn Tiffany, the original cast was led bySteve Kazee andCristin Milioti as Guy and Girl, respectively.[2] The production was nominated forLucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Director, Outstanding Choreographer, Outstanding Scenic Design (Bob Crowley), Outstanding Lighting Design (Natasha Katz), Outstanding Sound Design (Clive Goodwin), and Outstanding Lead Actress.[3] The production won theNew York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical.[4]
The musical then began previews on Broadway at theBernard B. Jacobs Theatre from 28 February 2012 and officially opening on 18 March.[5] Kazee and Milioti repeated their performances from the Off-Broadway cast.John Tiffany directed the production. Producers wereBarbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling-Smith,Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody,Michael G. Wilson, and Orin Wolf. The production received elevenTony Award nominations, winning eight, including Best Musical.[6] It also won theDrama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Musical for 2011–12. On 7 October 2014, it was announced that the musical would close 4 January 2015. The production played 1,167 regular performances and 22 previews by closing time.[7]
Following a limited engagement atDublin's Gaiety Theatre from 22 February until 9 March 2013, starringDeclan Bennett (Guy) andZrinka Cvitešić (Girl), the show made its West End debut at thePhoenix Theatre, London. Previews began 16 March, which was followed by a 9 April opening night. Bennett and Cvitešić reprise their roles from the Dublin run.[8] Bennett and Cvitešić made an appearance onBBC'sThe Graham Norton Show for the televised show on 31 May 2013. Prior to an interview, they performed "Falling Slowly". On 15 January 2014, the show was extended to 4 July 2015.Arthur Darvill replaced Bennett as Guy on 17 March 2014, reprising the role after an acclaimed run on Broadway, and continued in the role until 10 May 2014.[9] Cvitešić also left her role as Girl on 10 May.David Hunter andJill Winternitz then played Guy and Girl respectively.[10]Ronan Keating took over the lead role from 17 November 2014[11] to 21 March 2015, when the production closed.[12]
On 1 October 2013 the first North American national tour launched inProvidence, Rhode Island at theProvidence Performing Arts Center. Stuart Ward and Dani de Waal played Guy and Girl, respectively.[13] The tour ran through December 2015.[14]
A non-Equity North American national tour started in January 2016 in Utica, New York,[15] and ran through April 2017, starring Sam Cieri and Mackenzie Lesser-Roy, who would go on to reprise the role of Girl in SpeakEasy Stage Company's 2019 production in Boston.
On 7 July 2019, it was announced that the show would once again tour the US beginning on 22 August in Ft. Myers, Florida, and continuing into 2020. Jack Gerhard played Guy opposite Mariah Lotz as Girl. Original Broadway and Off-Broadway cast member, J. Michael Zygo, was the production's director and musical director.[16][17] The tour closed early on 23 December 2019, and all subsequent tour dates were cancelled.[18]
The first Australian production premiered at thePrincess Theatre in Melbourne on 26 September 2014, and ran through 1 February 2015.Tom Parsons and Madeleine Jones played Guy and Girl. It was presented in association with theMelbourne Theatre Company.[19]
The first non-English production was presented bySeensee Company and premiered on 14 December 2014, scheduled to run through 29 March 2015.Do-hyun Yoon and Chang-hee Lee played Guy, andMi-do Jeon andJi-yeon Park played Girl.[20]
A Canadian company opened 10 February and played through 28 June 2015 at theEd Mirvish Theatre. The production starred Ian Lake as Guy and Trish Lindström as Girl.[21] It garnered sevenDora Mavor Moore Award nominations in the Musical Theatre Division and won three, for Outstanding Production, Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Performance – Female for Lindström.
In March 2015, it was announced thatOnce would return to Dublin. It was scheduled to play a limited run from 4 July to 22 August at theOlympia Theatre.[22] The cast includedTom Parsons as Guy and Megan Riordan as Girl.[23] On 28 July, it was then announced thatOnce had been extended and would run until 12 September.[24] On 4 December 2015 it was announced thatOnce would return to Dublin and would play at the Olympia Theatre from 2 July – 27 August 2016.[25] In 2017, the musical returned again to theOlympia Theatre from 30 June – 26 August.[26]
After the success of the previous Korean production, cast members comprised from the Dublin, London, Australian and CanadianOnce companies played on The Charlotte Theatre from 22 September to 1 November.[27]
TheDarlinghurst Theatre Company production was opened to critical acclaim at theEternity Playhouse inSydney from 26 June to 23 July, where it sold out its entire season as well as its return season from 30 July to 4 August. It also played at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre from 24 to 28 July. The show was directed by Richard Carroll and starred Toby Francis as Guy, Stefanie Caccamo as Girl and Victoria Falconer as Reza and the musical director.[28][29]
The production returned to Darlinghurst Theatre Company in June 2021, again starring Toby Francis and Stefanie Caccamo with 6 new cast members includingJay Laga'aia, with plans for a tour to regionalNew South Wales,Canberra, and theComedy Theatre, Melbourne through until October.[30][31]
This production (locally translated Una vez en la vida) debuted inBuenos Aires at the Metropolitan Sura Theatre on 12 April 2019 and starringEliseo Barrionuevo andPaula Reca. The production closed on 4 August 2019.[citation needed]
In June 2019 it was announced thatOnce will embark on its first ever UK Tour featuringDaniel Healy as Guy and Emma Lucia as Girl. The tour will open at the Ashcroft Playhouse,Fairfield Halls in December 2019.[citation needed] The UK Tour was prematurely cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and as yet has not been rescheduled.[32]
A thirty-somethingDublinbusker (identified only as "Guy") sings a heartfelt ballad of unrequited love on a Dublin street, accompanying himself on guitar ("Leave"). He then puts his guitar in its case and turns to leave without it but a youngCzech woman (identified only as "Girl"), who has been listening to him sing approaches. She asks numerous personal questions about his songs and he replies that he wrote most of them for a girlfriend who broke up with him and moved to New York City. He is giving up on his music because the memories of his failed relationship are too painful so he now works as avacuum cleaner repairman in his father's shop. Girl responds that she has a vacuum that "does not suck" and asks him to fix it. She offers to pay for the repair by playing piano for him. Over his protests, she snatches the sheet music for a new song from his jacket. Reluctantly, Guy picks up his guitar and they play the song together ("Falling Slowly"). Girl suggests that he could win his old girlfriend back by singing her that song. Guy brushes this off but Girl reminds him that he now owes her a vacuum repair so they head to his father's shop ("The North Strand").As Guy fixes the vacuum, Girl becomes acquainted with his father, who seems to like her. Once the vacuum is repaired, Guy impulsively invites Girl to his bedroom, above the shop. They are clearly attracted to each other but when he attempts to kiss her she stops him and leaves ("The Moon"). The next day he apologises and they write, rehearse and record songs together. Girl introduces Guy to her family, including her young daughter, Ivanka ("Ej, Pada, Pada, Rosicka"). After Guy leaves, Girl plays one of his songs on the piano, substituting her own lyrics as she thinks of him ("If You Want Me").The next morning Girl tells Guy that she has arranged a meeting with a banker ("Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy"). To persuade the bank manager to approve a loan – which would enable Guy to take his music to New York – Guy plays him a song ("Say It to Me Now"). The banker is impressed with his talent, approves the loan and adds that he can play guitar as well. He plays a song for them ("Abandoned in Bandon") and though he is not a very good singer, they invite him to play in the band. The following night at a nightclub, Guy tells Girl that she has convinced him that his musical career is worth pursuing. Good, she replies, because itsopen mic night at the club and she has signed him up to perform as "The Hoover Man". He is reluctant but eventually takes the stage. As he sings, it seems like he is now singing to Girl, not his ex-girlfriend ("Gold").
During band practice, one of the musicians gets into an argument with the bank manager. He opposes capitalism, he says, despite the fact that he owns the shop where they are rehearsing. Guy and Girl retreat to a hill overlooking the city where the two share a brief, tender moment. Girl tells Guy, in Czech, that she loves him – but when he asks her to translate, she replies, "It looks like rain". Guy realizes that he has fallen in love with Girl and wonders how he will live without her when he moves to New York ("Sleeping").The next day the band records a demo for a major record label ("When Your Mind's Made Up"). After receiving praise for their performance, the band members take a break. Girl remains at the piano, and thinking she is alone, plays one of her own compositions that reveals the depth of her feelings for Guy ("The Hill"). Guy, who has been listening, compliments her on her song. He suggests that she and Ivanka move to New York with him because they clearly have feelings for each other that they cannot ignore. Girl answers angrily that he cannot feel that way. Incredulous, Guy asks why and Girl replies that her husband – Ivanka's father – is trying to reconcile with her and for the sake of their daughter she must consider it ("It Cannot Be About That"). The following morning the band gathers at the hill to voice their hopes for success with the impending album ("Gold (A Cappella)"). Guy asks Girl to spend his last night in Dublin with him but she demurs, because it would only result in "hanky-panky", which is a "bad idea"; but ultimately she agrees to come to the vacuum shop.Back at the shop, Guy plays the demo for his father. Impressed and moved, he gives Guy money to help him get settled in New York. Then Guy, encouraged by Girl, calls his ex-girlfriend in New York, who is happy about his imminent arrival, and seems willing to give their relationship another try. A few days later Girl comes home to find a piano with a bright red bow on it – a gift from Guy. She sheds a few tears, then sits at the piano and sings; as Guy, in his New York apartment, sings the same song ("Falling Slowly (Reprise)").
| Character | Original Broadway Cast | Original West End Cast | Melbourne Cast[19] | UK Tour Cast | West End Concert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guy | Steve Kazee | Declan Bennett | Tom Parsons | Daniel Healy | Jamie Muscato |
| Girl | Cristin Milioti | Zrinka Cvitešić | Madeleine Jones | Emma Lucia | Carrie Hope Fletcher |
| Réza | Elizabeth A. Davis | Flora Spencer-Longhurst | Amy Lehpamer | Ellen Chivers | Kamilla Gregorovitch |
| Eamon | David Abeles | Gareth O’Connor | Gerard Carroll | Matthew Burns | Phil Adèle |
| Andrej | Will Connolly | Jos Slovick | Keegan Joyce | James William-Pattison | Jos Slovick |
| Da | David Patrick Kelly | Michael O’Connor | Greg Stone | Peter Peverley | Alasdair Macrae |
| Baruska | Anne L. Nathan | Valda Aviks | Susan-Ann Walker | Susannah van den Berg | |
| Svec | Lucas Papaelias | Ryan Fletcher | Brent Hill | Lloyd Gorman | Loris Scarpa |
| Bank Manager | Andy Taylor | Jez Unwin | Anton Berezin | Samuel Martin | Angus Tikka |
| Ex-Girlfriend | Erikka Walsh | Miria Parvin | Jane Patterson | Rosalind Ford | Christina Tedders |
| Billy | Paul Whitty | Aidan Kelly | Colin Dean | Dan Bottomley | Seán Keany |
| Emcee | J. Michael Zygo | Gabriel Vick | Ben Brown | David Heywood | Michael Vien |
| Ivanka | Ripley Sobo, McKayla Twiggs | Poppy-Lily Baker, Mia-Jai Bryan, Pacha Anna Green, Nancy Ann Jeans | Lydia Prosser, Heather Warner, Robyn Elwell, Emma Freely | Tabitha Storton, Mia Raggio | |
Except where indicated, all musical numbers were written byGlen Hansard andMarkéta Irglová.
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"Once", the titular song from the film, was cut from the musical, but was performed by the cast of the Broadway production during special curtain calls, such as atCristin Milioti,Elizabeth A. Davis, and Will Connolly's final performance,[33] and when Markéta Irglová visited.[34]
Ben Brantley, in his review of the New York Theatre Workshop production inThe New York Times, wrote:[35]
"In translatingOnce into three dimensions, the playwright Enda Walsh and the director John Tiffany haven’t steered clear of what were probably inevitable excesses. The script is now steeped in wise and folksy observations about committing to love and taking chances, most of which are given solemn and thickly accented utterance by Girl (played by Cristin Milioti), who is Czech. Guy, played by Steve Kazee, has been transformed from a shaggy nerd into a figure of leading-man handsomeness, while Girl has turned into a full-fledged version of what she only threatened to be in the film: a kooky, life-affirming waif who is meant to be irresistible ... But a merciful reversal occurs whenOnce breaks into music, which is often. Characters become less adorably overwrought and more genuinely conflicted, with distinctive personalities instead of standard-issue ones. The songs (written by Mr. Hansard and Ms. Irglová) soar with rough-edged, sweet-and-sad ambivalence that is seldom visited in contemporary American musicals."
Brantley later reviewed the Broadway production, also inThe New York Times, writing:[36]
"When I first saw the musicalOnce at the New York Theater Workshop last December, it registered as a little too twee, too conventionally sentimental, for the East Village. Yet on Broadway – at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater to be exact, whereOnce opened on Sunday night – what is essentially the same production feels as vital and surprising as the early spring that has crept up on Manhattan. And what was always wonderful aboutOnce, its songs and its staging, has been magnified. In the meantime its appealing stars, Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti, have only grown in presence and dimensionality."
In reviewing the West End production forLondon Theatre Guide Peter Brown describes the show's key to success as lying in the songs of Hansard and Irglová:[37]
"what makes this musical really special and puts it in a different league to other offerings is the captivating, magical quality of the songs. Almost from the first note, you realise you are listening to music that is extraordinarily distinctive, powerfully emotional and hugely affecting – in a word... stunning."
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Tony Award | Best Musical | Won | |
| Best Book of a Musical | Enda Walsh | Won | ||
| Best Actor in a Musical | Steve Kazee | Won | ||
| Best Actress in a Musical | Cristin Milioti | Nominated | ||
| Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Elizabeth A. Davis | Nominated | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | John Tiffany | Won | ||
| Best Choreography | Steven Hoggett | Nominated | ||
| Best Orchestrations | Martin Lowe | Won | ||
| Best Scenic Design | Bob Crowley | Won | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Natasha Katz | Won | ||
| Best Sound Design | Clive Goodwin | Won | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Musical | Won | ||
| Outstanding Director of a Musical | John Tiffany | Won | ||
| Outstanding Music | Glen Hansard andMarkéta Irglová | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lyrics | Won | |||
| Outstanding Sound Design | Clive Goodwin | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Orchestrations | Martin Lowe | Won | ||
| New York Drama Critics' Circle Award[38] | Best Musical | Enda Walsh, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová | Won | |
| 2013 | Grammy Award | Best Musical Theater Album | Steve Kazee & Cristin Milioti, principal soloists;Steven Epstein & Martin Lowe, producers (Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, composers/lyricists) | Won |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best New Musical | Nominated | [39][40] | |
| Best Actress in a Musical | Zrinka Cvitešić | Won | |||
| Best Set Design | Bob Crowley | Nominated | |||
| Best Theatre Choreographer | Steven Hoggett | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound Design | Clive Goodwin | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Achievement in Music | Martin Lowe, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová | Won | |||
The production was nominated in the Musical Theatre Division of theDora Mavor Moore Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Dora Mavor Moore Awards | Outstanding Production | Won | |
| Outstanding Performance – Male | Ian Lake | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Performance – Female | Trish Lindström | Won | ||
| Outstanding Performance – Ensemble | Won | |||
| Outstanding Direction | John Tiffany | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Choreography | Steven Hoggett | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Musical Direction | Martin Lowe | Nominated | ||
