Almost Famous (musical)

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.

Almost Famous
The Musical
Broadway promotional poster
Music	Tom Kitt
Lyrics	Cameron Crowe Tom Kitt
Book	Cameron Crowe
Basis	Almost Famous by Cameron Crowe
Premiere	September 27, 2019: The Old Globe, San Diego
Productions	2019 San Diego 2022 Broadway

The musical is about a teenager who becomes a journalist for Rolling Stone magazine in the 1970s, based loosely on Crowe's life. 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.^[1] Creative work continued during the COVID-19 shutdown.^[2][3] Like the film, the musical begins in the San Diego, California home of the Miller family, progresses to the San Francisco offices of Rolling Stone magazine, and then travels through the United States on tour with the band Stillwater.^[4]

The Broadway production began previews on October 3, 2022, and opened November 3, 2022 at the Bernard 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] Despite the poor reception, it received a nomination for Best Original Score at the 76th Tony Awards.^[8]

In November 2023, Tom Kitt and Cameron Crowe reentered the development stage of their musical adaptation of Almost Famous with a residency at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. Public readings of the workshop were given on November 11, 15, and 18 at 7 PM at the Waterford, Connecticut, venue.^[9]

Cast and characters

Character	San Diego[10]	Broadway[11]
	2019	2022
William Miller	Casey Likes
Penny Lane	Solea Pfeiffer
Russell Hammond	Colin Donnell	Chris Wood
Elaine Miller	Anika Larsen
Jeff Bebe	Drew Gehling
Lester Bangs	Rob Colletti
Anita Miller	Emily Schultheis
Darryl	Daniel Sovich
David Felton	Van Hughes
Estrella	Julia Cassandra
Sapphire	Katie Ladner
Polexia	Storm Lever	Jana Djenne Jackson
Larry Fellows	Matt Bittner
Silent Ed	Brandon Contreras
Dick Roswell	Gerard Canonico
Ben Fong-Torres	Matthew C. Yee
Vic Nettles	Chad Burris
Dennis Hope	Sam Gravitte	Jakeim Hart
Leslie	Libby Winters

Musical numbers

Source: Playbill^[12]

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

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result
2023	Tony Awards	Best Original Score	Tom Kitt and Cameron Crowe	Nominated
	Drama Desk Awards[13]	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[14]		Casey Likes	Honoree

References

1. Hetrick, Adam (2019-09-27). "World Premiere Musical Adaptation of Almost Famous Opens at the Old Globe September 27". Playbill. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
2. Paulson, Michael (2022-06-02). "'Almost Famous,' Now a Musical, Will Open on Broadway This Fall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
3. Messman, Lauren (2019-04-26). "'Almost Famous' Musical to Open in San Diego". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
4. Charles McNulty (September 29, 2019). "Review: In the 'Almost Famous' musical, Cameron Crowe's coming-of-age rock tale burns bright".
5. "DidTheyLikeIt - Almost Famous". DidTheyLikeIt. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
6. Evans, Greg (2022-07-07). "'Almost Famous' Musical Sets New Broadway Opening Date, Lands Venue".
7. Huston, Caitlin (December 19, 2022). "'Almost Famous' to Close on Broadway in January". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
8. Sherman, Rachel (May 2, 2023). "Tony Awards Nominations 2023: The Complete List". The New York Times. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
9. Dorsey, Kristina. "A new 'Almost Famous': Cameron Crowe and Tom Kitt bring musical to O'Neill in Waterford". www.theday.com. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
10. "Almost Famous Cast in San Diego" (PDF). theoldglobe.org. The Old Globe. September 13, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
11. "Almost Famous Cast on Broadway". playbill.com. Playbill Vault. November 3, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
12. "Almost Famous (Broadway, Stephen Sondheim Theatre, 2021)". Playbill. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
13. "Shucked, Some Like It Hot Lead 2023 Drama Desk Award Nominations". 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
14. Rabinowitz, Chloe. "Julie Benko, Jodie Comer & More Will Receive 2023 Theatre World Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-04.

External links

• Official website
• Almost Famous at the Internet Broadway Database