Moulin Rouge – The Musical at Toyota Oakdale Theatre

Set in the artistic period during the late 19th century, Moulin Rouge! The Musical was heavily inspired by French history. The play takes places and is centered around the happenings of an actual nightclub in Montmartre, Paris, named the Moulin Rouge, where the underground aristocratic life was revealed. By the turn of the 20th century, Moulin Rouge became famous for its French Cabaret elegance – vibrant, free-spirited, and a somewhat crazy lifestyle. This Parisian venue that the staging was created from also influenced the creative team, with Baz Luhrmann and the musical's creative team mentioning that they did take parts of the actual French time period, and it can assuredly be viewed in the show. The decor, costumes, classical renditions, and song and dance numbers (which sees a lot of can-can dance) all evidently are a clear inspiration from to the film version of Moulin Rouge.

It is in this period of history leading up to the 1900s and right in the middle of the French La Belle Époque, a period thought to be the height of beauty and spreading artistry, where the fictional tale of two lovers finally happens. Christian, an American writer who travels to Paris, France aiming for a successful passion, meets Satine, the unrivaled entertainer of the Moulin Rouge. Christian and Satine, despite the imminent danger of their relationship, fall deeply in love and have to be a hidden affair with each other because of the Duke of Monroth's intervention.

Contrary to other accounts, the duration of La Belle Époque was attacked by even locals not as a time period of peace and harmony. Many believe that this time period were all about overindulgence and abuse of the rich. Moulin Rouge! The Musical, however, chose to capture the time period in a more favorable viewpoint by focusing on the hopeful Bohemian values of truth, beauty, freedom, and love, as witnessed through Christian and Satine’s evolving love story throughout the musical.

In more recent years, viewers and audiences have the opportunity to enjoy the passion most likely also reveled in by the original patrons of the Moulin Rouge, as Moulin Rouge! The Musical will be showing at an equally colorful and impressive venue, Toyota Oakdale Theatre. With interior decor just as sprightly as the set design that it is holding, Toyota Oakdale Theatre is the perfect fit for Moulin Rouge’s limited showing on Sunday 19th April 2026. Tickets are now available for purchase through the links that can be clicked on at the top of this page.