Lot of great standout show recapping from the past 2023-2024 season while we were on our long technical glitch hiatus. Let’s take a moment to once again talk of some great shows from the season that didn’t do well but earned a great cult following.
One of those already popular cult following shows we have to mention is LEMPICKA. For those who may not know, this musical told the story of the life of Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka. It follows her journey fleeing Russia to Paris during the Revolution. As a way of survival, she starts a life in painting becoming one of the first major female painters. In addition, you discover her life becoming bisexual. When she meets a free-spirited prostitute, you see her toen between the life with the woman plus her husband. It featured an original score and book by Matt Gould and Carson Kreitzer. Notable songs include OUR TIME, WOMAN IS, I WILL PAINT HER, PERFECTION, STAY, & more.
LEMPICKA was commissioned and developed through various early readings and workshops at the Yale Repertory Theatre and the New Dramatists between 2011-2017. It had its official world premiere at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts the following year of 2018. Early reviews were mixed to positive.
In between 2018‐2022, the show continued to be developed through more readings and workshops…. even during Quarantine. A second production was then staged at La Jolla Playhouse in California.
However, when LEMPICKA finally did hit Broadway this past Spring at the Longacre Theatre, it ended up an extreme backlash of negative reviews & extremely low-ticket sales. It closed after 27 previews and 41 regular performances. Under the direction of Tony winner Rachel Chavkin, the cast was led by….
Eden Espinosa as “Tamara De Lempicka”,
Amber Iman as “Rafaela”,
Andrew Samonsky as “Tadeusz Lempicki”,
George Abud as “Marinetti,
Tony winner Beth Leavel as “The Baroness”,
Nathaniel Stampley as “The Baron”,
Zoe Glick as “Kizette”,
&
Natalie Joy Johnson as “Suzy Soldier”.
Despite the negative output, LEMPICKA still went on to be nominated for 3 Tony Awards for BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Eden Espinosa), BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (Amber Iman), and BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL. However, it lost all its categories.
The Negative reviews even caused an uproar in the show’s following….. notably people in the LGBTQ+ community continuing to support the show. Many of the fans were inspired of Tamara’s story in discovering her sexuality in her art. It’s also a celebration that Art does matter.
Who saw LEMPICKA?
A 37-Second Montage of Broadway’s Lempicka, Starring Eden Espinosa (youtube.com)
