Powered by the chart-topping hits of the undisputed Princess of Pop, a group of friends goes on a quest to rewrite their stories and redefine “happily ever after.” Once Upon a One More Time weaves 23 of Britney Spears’ smash singles—like “Crazy,” “Oops!…I Did It Again,” “Circus,” “Lucky,” and “Toxic”—into “a big, modern, musical dance party, with Britney’s beating heart at its core” (ABC News). This is more than a musical. This is Broadway’s best night out. “It will leave you breathless. Expect to keep on dancin’ long after it ends!” (Entertainment Weekly)
Amid all the bright lights, loud sound and frenetic staging—at one point, Guarini swings from a chandelier—the musical’s most powerful weapon is its least effortful one: musical-comedy genius Jennifer Simard’s thoroughly original spin on Cinderella’s devious stepmother. With deadpan command and a somehow lugubrious flounce, she brings wit to each word she speaks or sings, whether laying waste to “Toxic” or, flanked by her washout daughters (Tess Soltau and Ann Hillner Larsen), telling the not-yet-liberated Cinderella to “Work Bitch.” Simard is delicious; the rest of the show, if you turn off your brain, is merely yummy in a candy-coated way. That’s not nothing: Once Upon a One More Time is a well-assembled and entertaining diversion. But this is now the third musical currently running on Broadway that features at least one Britney song, and that should give theater lovers pause. Musicals are capable of more ambitious roles than merely carrying Spears.
The dreadful show, which opened Thursday night at the Marquis Theatre, takes the pop songs of Britney Spears and plops them willy-nilly in a feminist Cinders in which the main character realizes there’s more to life than falling in love with a prince. Good for you, Cindy, but wouldn’t it be nice if you were both a freethinking, independent woman and your musical’s story made a lick of sense? It’s bibbidi-bobbidi-brainless. Instead of crafting compelling characters or a gripping plot, book writer Jon Hartmere has combined dance floor tunes from the aughts and half-baked, teacher’s-pet ideas into shapeless mush. “Once Upon” is rarely fun, but always cloying and impossible to follow.
Digital Lottery:
Price: $47
Where: https://lottery.broadwaydirect.com/show/omt-ny/.
When: Lottery entries for each performance will be accepted starting 9:00 AM the day prior to the performance until 3:00 PM the day prior to the performance. Once the lottery closes, winners will be notified within minutes and will have 60 minutes to claim and pay for tickets.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Seat locations and number of tickets awarded by the lottery are subject to availability, and some lottery seats may be partially obstructed.
2021 | Washington, DC (Regional) |
Washington, DC (Regional) |
2023 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical | Loren Elstein |
2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical | Justin Guarini |
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