Tony Tuesday: THE CHER SHOW

This week, we’re going back a few years to celebrate one of the biggest pop divas of all time. Let’s turn back time for some jukebox musical realness. This week’s TONY Tuesday is:

‘Believe’ from The Cher Show at the 2019 TONY awards ceremony. 

The Cher Show is a 2018 musical that chronicles the life of pop icon, Cher. In a similar set up to Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, The Cher Show focuses on three stages of the singer’s career and uses three different actors to portray her. The show’s book, penned by Rick Elice, uses the ‘Babe’, ‘Lady’ and ‘Star’ sections of Cher’s career and the constant use of communication between the three raises questions about what you would say to your younger self if you could in retrospect.

The show had a workshop outing in 2017 starring Lesli Margherita as Star, Lena Hall as Lady, Jillian Mueller as Babe and Jarrod Spector as Sonny Bono. The production made its world premiere at The Oriental Theatre in Chicago on 12 June 2018. This production saw Jarrod Spector continuing in his role of Sonny Bono, joined by Stephanie J. Block as Star, Teal Wicks as Lady and Micaela Diamond as Babe. The out-of-town try-out sold well and encouraged a Broadway transfer, however, it had to close one day early due to technical difficulties. 

The Broadway production opened at the Neil Simon Theatre for previews on 1 November 2019, with the principal cast from Chicago reprising their roles. The production was directed by Jason Moore, with choreography by Christopher Gattelli, set design by Christine Jones and Brett J. Banakis, lighting by Kevin Adams, sound by Nevin Steinberg, orchestrations, arrangements and musical supervision by Daryl Waters, with additional orchestrations by Steve Orich. The production was costumed by Cher’s original costume designer Bob Mackie. The production was also co-produced by Cher herself. The Cher Show was nominated for three 2019 TONY awards, winning two for costume design and Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for Stephanie J. Block. Despite the Tony wins however, the production closed in August 2019 after a run of around 9 months. 

A US tour was slated to commence in October 2020, however, due to the pandemic that has been postponed. 

In May 2021, it was announced that The Cher Show would make its way across the Atlantic and tour the UK in 2022. The revised production will be directed by Arlene Phillips, choreographed by Oti Mabuse, and with costume design by Gabriella Slade. 

Besties, I managed to catch the second preview of The Cher Show on Broadway and it was an absolute riot! Some truly incredible performances and vocals, if you haven’t listened to the cast recording, you must get on it!

Cast recording available on streaming services. 

FACTS:

Music: Various Artists
Lyrics: Various Artists
Book: Rick Elice
Theatre: The Neal Simon Theatre
Run: 1 November 2018 – 19 August 2019 (34 previews, 296 regular performances)

TONYS:

(NOMINATED) Best Lighting Design of a Musical – Kevin Adams

(WON) Best Costume Design – Bob Mackie, Best Actress in a Leading Performance in a Musical – Stephanie J. Block.