Almost Famous the Musical is based on the 2000 movie of the same name. It tells the coming-of-age story of a young boy in 1973 who is traveling with the band Stillwater in order to write about his experiences for Rolling Stone Magazine. It is based partially on the real-life experiences of the writer and director Cameron Crowe, which I find really interesting. We were lucky enough to meet him as he happened to be there when we saw the show, and he was really nice.
Out of all the shows opening on Broadway this season, Almost Famous was the one I was looking forward to the most, so as you might imagine I had very high expectations. From the second I entered the theatre, I was filled with excitement and dread as I worried the show would not live up to how much I had been hyping it up in my mind, however, I was thrilled to discover that the show did not disappoint. The heart-pounding roar of a rock concert is there without being too much. At all the points in the show when the band is performing, it really feels like you’re at a rock concert, while still feeling like a Broadway musical in the moments that it should.
Casey Likes is incredible leading the show in his Broadway debut role as William Miller. His high energy and excitement are evident from start to end which really added to my enjoyment. It was especially clear during the curtain calls that he was just having a really good time, which I found made the whole experience even more fun. Solea Pfeiffer also making her Broadway debut with this show was wonderful as Penny Lane. Her voice is beautiful and her acting is just as amazing. The rest of the cast is fantastic as well.
Another thing I loved about this show was the songs. A lot of them are really pretty. A few of the songs are already available for streaming, and I have been listening to them nonstop since I saw the show. I cannot wait for the full album to be released on March 17, 2023. Fans of the film would be happy to know that despite the show having mostly original music, it does include the song Tiny Dancer, which was featured in the movie.
The show also includes many of the lines from the movie and is very similar to the film in general without being too similar. I would recommend watching the movie before seeing the show though otherwise some of the story might be a little hard to follow, the show is great regardless. I am hoping to have the chance to see this show again. I would highly recommend that everyone else go see it as well.
Mom - Almost Famous is based on the film of the same name. It is about a teenage boy traveling around with a rock band in order to write an article about them for Rolling Stone. The show is very similar to the movie, but better in some ways too. For one thing, one or two cringe-worthy moments in the movie were either removed or toned down. For another thing, while the film had a great soundtrack full of well-known songs, surprisingly this is not a jukebox musical. The score is full of mostly original songs. The songs are good though, and they feel authentic to the time period.
Many of the cast members in the show are making their Broadway debuts including Casey Likes who plays the main role of William Miller. Maybe, that's one reason they all seem to be having so much fun. In any case, their enthusiasm is contagious, and you can't help having a good time at the show.
One actor who is not making her debut is Annika Larsen, but she does a terrific turn in the role of William's mother. The role was allegedly based on the playwright (and the film's scriptwriter), Cameron Crowe's mother and in his Playbill bio, he dedicates the show to her. She should be proud.
And that's our view. Tune in Sunday for this week's Sunday Scoop.
All Almost Famous production photos by Matt Murphy
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