What do you get when you cross a bunch of fairy tale princesses with the music of pop icon Britney Spears and the ideas of second-wave feminist Betty Friedan? You get a very buzzy new musical now officially on its way to Broadway. Once Upon a One More Time will begin preview performances May 13, 2023 at the Marquis Theatre ahead of a June 22 opening.
The story centers on a book club of fairy tale damsels—including Cinderella, Snow White, and the Little Mermaid—whose own stories get a rewrite when a fairy godmother gives them Friedan's landmark 1963 feminist tome The Feminine Mystique. The new tuners features an original book by Jon Hartmere (bare: a pop opera) and a jukebox score of Spears hits such as "Oops I Did It Again," "Lucky," "Circus," and "Toxic." Along with the other pop jukebox musicals & Juliet and Moulin Rouge!, Once Upon a One More Time will be the third musical running on Broadway belting tunes from the Princess of Pop.
The announcement of Once Upon a One More Time also comes on the day of Spears' 41st birthday.
Once Upon a One More Time premiered November 2021 at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. under the helm of married creative partners Keone and Mari Madrid, well-known choreographers in the world of urban dance. They have created for several televised dance competition shows as well as various video for recording artists including BTS, Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran, Flying Lotus, and Kendrick Lamar.
The Madrids will continue with the show in their Broadway debuts as directors and choreographers, leading a creative team that will include creative consultant David Leveaux (Nine, Romeo and Juliet), scenic designer Anna Fleischle (Hangmen), costume and hair designer Loren Elstein, lighting designer Kenneth Posner (Wicked, Beetlejuice), sound designer Andrew Keister (KPOP), and projection designer Sven Ortel (Newsies). Lead producers are James L. Nederlander and Hunter Arnold.
Casting will be announced at a later date. Tickets go on sale via Ticketmaster for Britney Spears Fan Club members December 2 and to the general public December 5.
Justin Guarini and cast in the 2021 production of Once Upon a One More Time
