Marie Antoinette (musical)

The musical follows Marie Antoinette from her arrival at the French court as a teenager to her execution during the French Revolution. It depicts her transformation from a frivolous queen to a symbol of royal excess, and her relationship with Axel von Fersen, as well as the growing unrest among the French people. The story is framed by a trial in which Marie Antoinette reflects on her life, with the character of the Revolution personified as a chorus.

The musical was first announced in 2015, with Stephen Schwartz and Joseph Stein collaborating. It had a workshop in 2017, and a pre-Broadway engagement at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2019. The Broadway production opened at the Nederlander Theatre on November 3, 2019, directed by Michael Mayer. Despite the star power of Patti LuPone, the show received mixed reviews and closed on December 22, 2019, after 33 previews and 33 regular performances.

The score features songs such as "I Don't Know", "The World Is on Fire", "The Queen of France", and "The Last Dance". The music is a blend of classical and contemporary styles, with Schwartz's signature lyrical wit. The original cast recording was released by Broadway Records in 2020.

Critical reception was mixed. Critics praised Patti LuPone's performance and the score, but criticized the book and the show's pacing. The musical received two Tony Award nominations: Best Actress in a Musical for LuPone and Best Costume Design for Susan Hilferty. It did not win either. The production was a financial loss, recouping only a fraction of its investment.

Joseph Stein, who wrote the book, was best known for Fiddler on the Roof; this was his final work, as he died in 2010. The musical was originally conceived as a vehicle for Patti LuPone, who had previously worked with Schwartz on The Baker's Wife. The show's title was originally "Marie Antoinette: The Musical" but was shortened. A notable detail: the character of the Revolution is portrayed by a chorus of actors who also play various roles, a device that was compared to the work of Bertolt Brecht.

Book

The script and spoken dialogue of a musical, as opposed to the lyrics and music.

Workshop

A developmental presentation of a musical, often with minimal staging, to refine the work.

Pre-Broadway engagement

A tryout run of a show in a regional theater before its Broadway opening.