Conceived by and Original Book by Jeffy Whitty
Adapted by James Magruder
Music and Lyrics by The Go-Go's
Based on the 16th-century novel The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney
March 5, 2020-March 26, 2022
HEAD OVER HEELS
FIVE ST. LOUIS THEATER CIRCLE NOMINATIONS, INCLUDING BEST MUSICAL!
"Could this be the greatest show New Line Theatre has ever put on stage? It is, in its brash, tight dance numbers, along with a dozen shimmering vocal solos."
– Richard Green, TalkinBroadway
"Not to be missed, Head Over Heels is one of the best shows you’re likely to see all year (and it’s only March!)." – Steve Allen, StageDoor STL
“It’s hard to imagine a more joyful swirl of activity than theatergoers are treated to in Head Over Heels. . . . It’s a party you won’t want to leave.” – Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“New Line Theatre's hilarious Head Over Heels should not be missed!!” – Jeff Ritter, Critical Blast
"A triumphant romp of musical theatre." – Rob Levy, BroadwayWorld
"A winning show about love, forgiveness and finding one's true self in a non-binary world." – Paul Friswold, The Riverfront Times
“Who better to pick up a wildly fun show like this than New Line?" – Kevin Brackett, ReviewSTL
"Head Over Heels shows off New Line at the top of its form." – Judy Newmark, All the World's a Stage
The musical you didn't know you needed.
HEAD OVER HEELS is the bold, sexy new musical comedy from the visionaries that rocked Broadway with American Idiot, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Avenue Q and Spring Awakening. Conceived by Jeff Whitty, with an original book by Whitty, adapted by James Magruder, originally directed by Michael Mayer, based on a novel from 1580 (not kidding!) and set to the music of the iconic 1980s all-girl rock band The Go-Go's, this subversive, high-octane, laugh-out-loud love story includes hit songs like, “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation,” “Heaven is a Place on Earth” and “Mad About You.”
The wild story follows the escapades of a royal family who set out on a journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction -- only to discover the key to their realm’s survival lies within each of their own hearts. . . though not always in the way they expect. . . and in their willingness to let go of rigid tradition and change with the times.
Head Over Heels originally premiered at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2015, then opened on Broadway in 2018. The show was nominated for Best Musical by the Drama League and the Outer Critics Circle Awards. The novel it's based on, The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney, also proved fertile source material for certain plot elements of Shakespeare's King Lear, Hamlet, and A Winter's Tale.
After New Line's 2020 production was shut down by the pandemic, nearly the entire cast returned to remount the show in 2022. The New Line cast included Grace Langford (Princess Pamela), Melissa Felps (Princess Philoclea), Clayton Humburg (Musidorus), Dawn Schmid (Mopsa), Zachary Allen Farmer (King Basilius), Carrie Wenos (Queen Gynecia), Colin Dowd (Dametas), Tielere Cheatem (Pythio), Kevin Corpuz, Evan Fornachon, Chris Kernan, Chris Moore, Maggie Nold, Michelle Sauer, Alyssa Wolf, and Sara Rae Womack.
The New Line production was directed by Scott Miller, with music directed by Nicolas Valdez, choreography by Michelle Sauer and Sara Rae Womack, scenic design by Rob Lippert, costume design by Courtney Gibson and Sarah Porter, lighting design by Kenneth Zinkl, and sound design by Ryan Day.
Produced by arrangement with Broadway Licensing, New York.
Want to explore more?
We recommend:
The original Broadway cast recording
The 1580 novel the show is based on, The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney
Director Scott Miller's blog, "The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre" about New Line's creative process.
A great summary and analysis of The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia
The Broadway production's official Head Over Heels website
The book The Go-Go's: A YinPop Guide
Belinda Carlisle's memoir, Lips Unsealed
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