Is Broadway ready for an Imelda Marcos-inspired musical? Hint: It’s not about the shoes
$22 million price tag, the new Broadway bio-musical Here Lies Love wants you to be in awe of its opulence, but often at the cost of what’s underneath the visual spectacle.
The costly production, which opens on July 20, is part of the recent trend of Broadway-bound historical pop concerts, a genre that includes the medieval girl group romp Six.
This time, we’re transported to 20th-century Philippines to hear the tale of Imelda Marcos, the Filipino first lady who held enormous political influence in the Philippines and abroad, while also partying at Studio 54 with the likes of Andy Warhol and Liza Minnelli.
Based on a 2010 concept album by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim and a previous run at Off-Broadway’s Public Theater, the immersive show finally arrives on Broadway with an innovative staging in which orchestra seating has been transformed into a massive dance floor, complete with shifting platforms that change positions throughout the performance.
