Show History

History

Inspiration

Once, a musical with a book by Irish playwright Enda Walsh and a score by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, is a stage adaptation of the 2007 musical film of the same name. The film is a naturalistic drama that stars Hansard and Irglov (for which they wrote all the music, as well) and tells the story of an Irish man who falls for a young Czech woman. The song, "Falling Slowly," won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Going along with the resounding theme of music that exists throughout, the actors in Once doubly functions as the orchestra, picking up a variety of instruments to play throughout the show.

Productions

Once premiered at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA. It then moved to the New York Theatre Workshop in New York City, where it opened on December 6, 2011. The production only ran until January 15, 2012, but its success in its limited run prompted a Broadway transfer. It opened on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on March 18, 2012. A North American national tour launched in Providence, Rhode Island, on October 1, 2013. 

Once has also made an impact internationally. The musical made its West End debut at the Phoenix Theatre on April 9, 2013, after a limited engagement at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin. The Melbourne Theatre Company put up the Australia premiere on September 26, 2014. On February 10, 2015, a "sit down" production of Once opened at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto, featuring an entirely Canadian cast.

Trivia

  • The Off-Broadway production of Once was nominated for seven Lucille Lortel Awards, including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Director and Outstanding Choreographer. It also won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical.
  • The Broadway production of Once was nominated for eleven Tony Awards in 2012, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Choreography and Best Direction of a Musical. It was also nominated for six Drama Desk Awards (including Outstanding Musical, Music, Lyrics and Director of a Musical), as well as Drama League and New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards for Best Musical.  The album for the Broadway production also won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2013.
  • The West End production of Once was nominated for six Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, Outstanding Achievement in Music and Best Theatre Choreographer. It was also nominated for five Whatsonstage.com Awards, including Best New Musical, Best Original Music and Best Director.
  • Celebrities who have appeared in Once include: Cristin Milioti (Girl), Arthur Darvill (Guy), Steve Kazee (Guy), Elizabeth A. David (Reza), David Patrick Kelly (Da), Paul Whitty (Billy) and Joanna Christie (Girl).