A MUSICAL THAT REACHES FOR NEW HEIGHTS
Built during the Depression between 1930 and 1931, the Empire State Building became the world’s tallest office building—surpassing the Chrysler Building by a whopping 204 feet. The design of the building changed 16 times during planning and construction, but 3,000 workers completed the building’s construction in record time: One year and 45 days, including Sundays and holidays. The Empire State Building is composed of 60,000 tons of steel, 200,000 cubic feet of Indiana limestone and granite, 10 million bricks, and 730 tons of aluminum and stainless steel.
Built for $41 million, the Empire State Building remained the tallest building (at 1,250 feet) in the world for 41 years. (In 1972, the World Trade Center claimed this distinction.) Today, despite being surpassed in height by other towers, the structure remains an internationally known landmark and arguably the most famous building ever constructed.
And if you think erecting this amazing creation is challenging, try creating a musical. It takes the same indomitable spirit, vision, compromise, talent, and risk. Tonight, Empire: The Musical will premiere in its hometown, New York City, for a 12-week limited engagement at New World Stages (opening night is July 11, 2024). The production, with Book, Music & Lyrics by Caroline Sherman & Robert Hull, is directed by Tony-winner Cady Huffman.
Empire is an original musical about those who bravely embodied the American spirit during the dark days of the Great Depression by building what was then the tallest structure in the world, the Empire State Building. When The Roaring Twenties collapsed into the reeling 30s, these industrialists, laborers and their families mortgaged all that was safe and reasonable for the dream of leaving their mark on New York City and the world.
Told through the lens of three generations of dreamers and doers spanning New York City in the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and the Bicentennial Year of 1976, this original story shines new light on one of history’s greatest feats of will and desire. With a desperate city pinning its hopes on this seemingly impossible project, only skyscraper-high levels of grit and determination could keep it climbing. In EMPIRE, audiences will take the thrilling ride to the sky with the brave Mohawk Skywalkers, industrialist visionaries, and can-do immigrants, all of whom had the guts to go up when everyone else was down. Empire is a celebration of the American spirit with big dance numbers, pop-driven melodies, and captivating spectacle, putting a contemporary spin on the classic musicals of the ’40s and ’50s.
The cast of EMPIRE includes Danny Iktomi Bevins, Jessica Ranville, Devin Cortez, Morgan Cowling, Kaitlyn Davidson, Joel Douglas, Joseph Fierberg, Alexandra Frohlinger, Matt Gibson, Albert Guerzon, Julia Louise Hosack, Kiana Kabeary, Howard Kaye, TJ Newton, April Ortiz, Kennedy Perez, Paul Salvatoriello, J Savage, Robbie Serrano, and Ethan Saviet.
The creative team includes choreography by Lorna Ventura, scenic design by Walt Spangler, costume design by Tina McCartney, lighting design by Jamie Roderick, sound design by Shannon Slaton, hair & make-up design by Ian Joseph, music supervision & orchestrations by Lena Gabrielle, arrangements by Robert Hull & Lena Gabrielle, music direction by Gillian Berkowitz, props by Brendan McCann, and the Stage Manager is Kat West.
photos by Matthew Murphy
Empire: A New Musical
New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street
run time 2 hours, 30 minutes
Mon at 7; Wed at 2 & 8; Thurs at 7; Fri at 8; Sat at 2 & 8; Sun at 3
scheduled to end on September 22, 2024
for tickets ($49-$129), visit Empire