| The View UpStairs | |
| Music: | Max Vernon |
| Lyrics: | Max Vernon |
| Productions: | 2017 Off-Broadway 2018 Sydney 2019 London 2022 Japan Various independent productions (see below) |
| Premiere Date: | 28 February 2017 |
| Premiere Location: | Lynn Redgrave Theater, New York City |
The View UpStairs is a musical with music, lyrics and book by Max Vernon based on the real-life events of the 1973 arson attack at the UpStairs Lounge, a gay bar in New Orleans. This attack resulted in the deaths of 32 people, the deadliest attack[1] on a gay club in U.S. history before the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting. The show is inspired by and pays tributes to many of the patrons who frequented the venue.
The single-act show runs for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes and is set entirely within the UpStairs Lounge.[2]
The show's score was composed by Max Vernon in 2013 and was first performed on June 24 of that year in a concert setting with performers such as Michael McElroy and Nathan Lee Graham (who eventually went on to originate the role of Willie) amongst others.[3] [4] The show then went into a workshop period in March 2016 under Invisible Wall Productions with Scott Ebersold as director and Matt Aument as musical director. The cast performed a benefit concert on July 11, 2016, for the victims and survivors of the Orlando nightclub shooting, with all proceeds going to the 'Equality Florida' institution.
The View UpStairs was first produced Off-Broadway by Invisible Wall Productions, and was also under the direction of Scott Ebersold. It began previews on February 15, 2017, at the Lynn Redgrave Theater in New York and officially premiered on February 26, before closing on May 21, 2017. It has since received a regional premiere in Richmond, Virginia[5] and Los Angeles.
The show had its international premiere at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney, Australia, under the direction of Shaun Rennie. The show was put on as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and began previews on 8 February 2018 before opening on 11 February. The sold out season of 33 performances concluded on 11 March 2018.[6]
Following the success of prior productions of the musical, several US regional productions were scheduled for the 2018–2019 season including:
The show had its European premiere at the Soho Theatre in London. This production was directed by Jonathan O’Boyle and ran from 18 July to 24 August 2019.[15]
In February 2022 the show had its first run in Japan. This production was translated, adapted, directed and choreographed by Yojiro Ichikawa.[16] [17]
| Character | Description[18] [19] | |
|---|---|---|
| Wes | 20-something fashion designer from the current day. Self-consciously hip, prematurely jaded, and perpetually anxious. Wes wears a fabulous façade, but deep down harbors real insecurities and dissatisfaction with his life. Has never experienced real tragedy or love. | |
| Patrick | Young, runaway hustler who projects innocence and fragility, but is a lot tougher than he appears. Patrick creates fantastic, imaginative stories to distract from the harsher realities of his life. Has the ability to see a vulnerability and sweetness in Wes. | |
| Buddy | The resident piano player of the UpStairs Lounge. Charismatic, but also very temperamental and somewhat bitter. Loves the attention he commands within the community, but also resents being stuck in it. Dreams of one day being a big star, but knows it will never happen. Closeted, with a wife. | |
| Willie | Black. Holdover from another era of gay life with a more camp sensibility. Might know all the secrets of the universe, might be in the early stages of dementia. | |
| Henri | Tough as nails, no-nonsense, old-school butch. Henri is the bartender of the UpStairs Lounge and runs a tight ship. Although she comes across as a bit severe, she cares very deeply for the community within the bar. | |
| Freddy | A Latino construction worker by day, Freddy also doubles as the drag queen Aurora Whorealis by night. Big personality, energetic, and bright. A close friend to Willie and on good terms with everyone else in the bar. | |
| Inez | Freddy's mother and also occasionally a mother to the other men in the UpStairs Lounge. Born in Puerto Rico, she moved her family to America when Freddy was still young. Lovable, warm, and supportive, Inez assists with her son's drag performances. | |
| Richard | Priest of the Metropolitan Community Church. Perhaps more conservative than other patrons in the bar, but level-headed and warm. The name Rita Mae is used when Richard is played by a woman. | |
| Dale | Arsonist. Sensitive and more radical in his sexual politics. A raw nerve and someone who's experienced a good deal of hardship at society's hand. | |
| Cop | In the past the cop is a corrupt, homophobic, and violent. In the present, the cop is still stern, but has a sense of humor, and seems to be in service of justice. | |
| Realtor | The untrustworthy, fake real estate agent who sells Wes the burnt site of The UpStairs Lounge; Smarmy, fake, smiles too much, etc. |
| Character | Off-Broadway 2017[20] | Sydney 2018[21] | London 2019[22] | Japan 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wes | Jeremy Pope | Henry Rollo | Tyrone Huntley | Soichi Hirama |
| Patrick | Taylor Frey | Stephen Madsen | Andy Mientus | Yuta Koseki |
| Buddy | Randy Redd | Anthony Harkin | John Partridge | Hiroshi Hatanaka |
| Willie | Nathan Lee Graham | Madison McKoy | Cedric Neal | Kojiro Oka |
| Henri | Frenchie Davis | Markesha McCoy | Carly Mercedes Dyer | Haruko Sekiya |
| Freddy | Michael Longoria | Ryan Gonzalez | Garry Lee | Shogo Sakamoto |
| Inez | Nancy Ticotin | Martelle Hammer | Victoria Hamilton-Barritt | JKim |
| Richard | Benjamin Howes | Thomas Campbell | Joseph Prouse | Shunsuke Omura (SHUN) |
| Dale | Ben Mayne | David Hooley | Declan Bennett | Yoshihisa Higashiyama |
| Cop | Richard E. Waits | Nick Eroll | Derek Hagen | Takumi Ohmine |
| Realtor | Nancy Ticotin | Martelle Hammer |
The Original Off-Broadway Cast recording was released on 11 August 2017.[23]
‡ Cut song that is optional to put back in the show
Source: Lortel.org[24]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Set Design of a Musical | Jason Sherwood | |
| Outstanding Costume Design | Anita Yavich | |||
| Outstanding Wig and Hair | Jason Hayes | |||
| Off Broadway Alliance Awards | Best Musical | The View UpStairs | ||
| Audelco Award[25] | Director/Musical Production | Scott Ebersold | ||
| Outstanding Performance in a Musical - Male | Nathan Lee Graham | |||
| Outstanding Musical Director | James Dobinson | |||
| Musical Production of the Year | The View UpStairs | |||
| Lortel Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Nathan Lee Graham | ||
| Outstanding Scenic Design | Jason Sherwood | |||
| Henry Hewes Design Awards[26] | Scenic Design | Jason Sherwood | ||
| Costume Design | Anita Yavich |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Sydney Theatre Award[27] | Best Production of a Musical | The View UpStairs | |
| Best Direction of a Musical | Shaun Rennie | |||
| Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production | Trent Suidgeest | |||
| Best Stage Design of an Independent Production | Isabel Hudson | |||
| BroadwayWorld Awards[28] | ||||
| Best Musical | The View UpStairs | |||
| Best Director/Musical | Shaun Rennie | |||
| Best Actor in a Musical | Henry Brett | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Ryan Gonzalez | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Stephen Madsen | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Markesha McCoy | |||
| Best Ensemble Performance in a Musical | The View UpStairs | |||
| Best Scenic Design | Isabel Hudson | |||
| Best Lighting Design | Trent Suidgeest | |||
| Best Sound Design | Neil Mcclean | |||
| Best Costume Design | Anita Yavich | |||
| Glugs Awards | The Stuart Wagstaff Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Direction | Shaun Rennie |