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“Back to the Future: The Musical” makes a heavy pit stop at Hollywood Pantages Theatre for an evening of heartfelt nostalgia, delightful laughter, and spinning tunes. An electrifying experiment in the realm of classic movies translating from the silver screen to stage in fashionable Broadway style. The curious chemistry retains the spirit of the original 1985 “Back to the Future” film that highlights and adapts core moments and story beats into propelling songs and show-stopping dance sequences. Truthful to diehard fans, introducing theater lovers to the story and characters in meaningful ways, and tying everything together with the iconic visual spectacle of 1980s era time travel possibility.
Marty McFly (Caden Brauch) is a young high school student in 1985 Hill Valley. Despite feeling like a loser with his unsuccessful band, his girlfriend, Jennifer Parker (Kiara Lee), sees the good in him. Encouraging to keep playing and show off his talent. Marty meets up with Doc Brown (Don Stephenson) in the middle of the night to help with a science experiment with a time-traveling machine.
Doc gets into imminent danger and Marty speeds off to help his friend and accidentally travels back in time to the year 1955. More trouble brews as he unknowingly prevented his father, George McFly (Burke Swanson), from meeting his mother, Lorraine Baines (Zan Berube), thus endangering his own existence. As Marty tries to prevent this catastrophe from staying permanent, he has to face the school bully, Biff Tannen (Ethan Rogers).
Alan Silverstri’s iconic score highlights all the heart-pounding moments just like in the movie. The main theme makes the DeLorean come alive along with the visual and audio components to make the audience believe the time traveling vehicle truly appear and disappear on stage before the audience’s eyes. The careening speed scenes turns and curves in angles that make you want to swerve your body with the action on stage.
Music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard take the story beats of the original 1985 film and uses them to anchor propelling moments to keep the story, conflicts, and characters moving forward. Every number has a place in the show and does not waste any time. “Cake”is a delightful satire on 1950s future living during Marty’s first walk thru Courthouse Square in 1955. Celebrated fan favorite Goldie Wilson (Cartreze Tucker) is a reflection of someone determined to turn their future around giving his “Gotta Start Somewhere” a rousing boost in morale.
Given the movie’s long-lasting existence, the relationship between Marty and Doc has been in the eye of pop culture in many other mediums and no stranger to parody and satire. One of which, the animated television show “Rick and Morty” may have influenced and played up the role of Doc as more over the top to the movie counterpart. In particular with his fourth wall breaking musical numbers in “It Works”, “Future Boy”, and “21st Century”. This balances out with undoubtedly the musical’s signature anthem in the spiritual “For the Dreamers”.
The show still gives the audience what they want with memorable songs from the movie with “Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)”, “Johnny B. Goode”, Marty’s band playing “The Power of Love”, and “Back in Time” to conclude the show on a rapturous high note.
Bits of dialogue were small but solid inside jokes to the success of the original movie. Nods to influences that make the franchise a standout icon. Calling out the name of the name of the original car designer was a noteworthy touch. New and old fans will take joy in the sights and sounds of this worthy stage adaptation of the beloved film.
“Back to the Future: The Musical” delivers what the audience could ever need from a nostalgic classic with a musical twist. You couldn’t ask for anything more. The show takes its premise with fun, sometimes over the top, not too serious, and leaves with a kind message. The adaptation from screen to stage by original writer Bob Gale must have been a thrilling opportunity to go back and make sensible adjustments to elements to condense and expand. In particular, for years, Bob Gale has said if he knew this movie franchise would take off the way it dod, he would not have placed Jennifer in the DeLorean with Marty and Doc at the end of the first movie.
Well, he got just that with this version. In fact, he along with other members of the other cast and crew of the original film were in attendance at the opening night premiere at Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Director Robert Zemeckis, composer Alan Silvestri, Claudia Wells, Lea Thompson, producer Frank Marshall, cinematographer Dean Cundey, and many more. An emotional reunion for new and old fans to see all the people who have professionally contributed to the legacy of “Back to the Future”.
Set your clocks and don’t be late for “Back to the Future: The Musical” playing at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre from November 5 to December 1, 2024. For more information including ticket sales, visit https://www.broadwayinhollywood.com/
The production will return to Southern California at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa from December 26, 2024 – January 5, 2025.
