Almost Famous is a 2019 stage musical with music by Tom Kitt, lyrics by Cameron Crowe and Kitt, and a book by Crowe. It is based on the 2000 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 for Rolling Stone magazine in the 1970s. The show debuted in San Diego at The Old Globe in 2019, with previews beginning on September 13 and a premiere on September 27. It ran through October 27. Creative work continued during the COVID-19 shutdown. Like the film, the musical begins in the San Diego, home of the Miller family, progresses to the San Francisco offices of Rolling Stone, and then travels through the United States on tour with the fictional band Stillwater.
The Broadway production began previews on October 3, 2022, and opened November 3, 2022 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre to mainly negative reviews. On December 19, it was announced that the show would close on January 8, 2023, after 30 previews and 77 performances. 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 for Best Original Score at the 76th Tony Awards.
In November 2023, Kitt and Crowe reworked Almost Famous during a residency at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut. Public readings of the workshop were given on November 11, 15, and 18. The workshop has not yet received public reviews.
Cast and characters Character San Diego BroadwayO'Neill Center Reading1201920222023 William Miller Casey LikesBrayden Bambino Penny Lane Solea PfeifferLola Tung Russell HammondColin DonnellChris WoodAlex Boniello Elaine Miller Anika Larsen Jeff Bebe Drew GehlingDamon Daunno Lester Bangs Rob Colletti Anita MillerEmily SchultheisKaty Geraghty Sapphire Katie Ladner David Felton Van Hughes Estrella Julia Cassandra Polexia Storm Lever Jana Djenne Jackson Darryl Daniel SovichBlaine Alden Krauss Silent Ed Brandon Contreras Dick Roswell Gerard Canonico Larry Fellows Matt BittnerKelvin Moon Loh Ben Fong-Torres Matthew C. Yee Vic Nettles Chad Burris Dennis Hope Sam Gravitte Jakeim HartChad Burris Leslie Libby WintersJulia Cassandra 1Reading was presented with a cast of 13, with most actors playing multiple roles.
Musical numbers Source: Playbill
Act I "1973" – William Miller, Elaine Miller, Company "Who Are You With?" – Estrella, Polexia, Sapphire, Penny Lane, William Miller "Ramble On" – Stillwater, William Miller, Company "Penny and William" – Penny Lane, William Miller † "Fever Dog" – Stillwater ‡ "Morocco" – Penny Lane, William Miller "1973" (reprise) – Full Company † "He Knows Too Little (And I Know Too Much)" – Elaine Miller + "It's All Happening" – Penny Lane, William Miller, Ensemble "Everybody's Coming Together" – Full Company "The Night-Time Sky's Got Nothing on You" – Russell Hammond, Penny Lane "No Friends" – William Miller, Ensemble "Simple Man" – Jeff Bebe, Russell Hammond "Something Real" – Russell Hammond, William Miller, Ensemble "Tiny Dancer" – Full Company
Act II "Stick Around" – Ensemble "Elaine's Lecture" – Elaine Miller "It Ain't Easy"/"It's All Happening" (reprise) – Estrella, Polexia, Sapphire, Penny Lane, William Miller, Jeff Bebe, Company "I Come at Night" – Stillwater † "Listen to Me" – Elaine Miller, Russell Hammond "The Wind" – Penny Lane "Higher Ground" – Full Company † "Lost in New York City, Pt. 1" – William Miller, Company "River"/"Lost in New York City, Pt. 2" – Penny Lane, William Miller, Company "The Real World" – Penny Lane, William Miller "Midnight Rider" – Russell Hammond † "Goodbye"/"New Day Coming" – Russell Hammond, Penny Lane, Company "The Night-Time Sky's Got Nothing on You" (reprise) – Russell Hammond † Finale: "Everybody's Coming Together" (reprise) – Full Company "Fever Dog Bows" – Full Company
† Not on Original Broadway Cast Recording
‡ Written for the film by Nancy Wilson
+ Included as bonus track on cast album, along with "Anything's Possible" sung by Solea Pfeiffer
Awards and nominations
2022 Broadway production +YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult2023Tony AwardsBest Original ScoreTom Kitt and Cameron CroweDrama Desk AwardsOutstanding MusicTom Kitt, AnnMarie Milazzo (vocal designer)Outstanding Sound Design of a MusicalPeter HylenskiOutstanding Wig and HairCampbell Young AssociatesTheatre World AwardCasey Likes
References
External links Official website Almost Famous at the Internet Broadway Database