The musical, which premiere production cost around $20 million[17] to produce, has a book by Thomas Meehan and Sylvester Stallone,[18] adapted from Stallone's screenplay, and is directed by Alex Timbers,[19] with choreography by Kelly Devine, boxing choreography by Steven Hoggett,[20] set design by Christopher Barreca,[21] costume design by David Zinn,[21] lighting design by Christopher Akerlind,[21] sound design by Peter Hylenski,[21] video design by Pablo N. Molina[21] and special effects by Jeremy Chernick.[21] A mostly original score has been penned, by Lynn Ahrens with music by Stephen Flaherty.[22]
The show's set, which for Broadway cost $4.3 million,[23] is set around a mostly bare stage which represents the Gym that Rocky trains in.[24] The production uses sliding box-like sets to represent the homes of the characters[24] and the sliding element goes on to include a full sized regulation boxing ring.[25] Audience members seated within the front stalls Golden Circle seating section, are escorted onto the stage for the final 20 minutes to sit on bleacher style seats,[26] in doing so this allows the boxing ring to enter the auditorium[27] and sit in rows A-F,[26] bringing the audience close to the final fight scene.[27]
On 28 April 2013, it was announced the show would transfer to Broadway in February 2014.[33] On 26 August, it was announced that the show would open on 13 March 2014, at the Winter Garden Theatre, with previews commencing on 11 February 2014.[34] The first preview was cancelled as a result of delayed technical rehearsals, due to power problems in the area.[35] Following a scheduled rehearsal day, previews commenced on 13 February.[36] Tickets went on sale on 8 September 2013,[37] with title casting announced shortly after, with Andy Karl playing Rocky, Margo Seibert playing Adrian[38] and Terence Archie transferring from the Hamburg production, to reprise his role as Apollo Creed. Dakin Matthews, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Jennifer Mudge and Okieriete Onaodowan were also in the cast in supporting roles.[39] Rehearsals for the production began on 18 December 2013, nearly two months prior to opening.[32] The cast performed as part of the ceremony for the 68th Tony Awards in June 2014.[40] It was announced on 15 July 2014 that the show would close on 17 August 2014, after a run of 28 previews and 188 performances.[41]
Scrapped Korean production
The Korean production, first announced in early 2016, was scheduled to open on October 29 of that year. However, after low ticket sales and production difficulties, the production was cancelled the day before the premiere.[42] The announcement was heavily criticized, especially by the actors who were only notified of the cancellation via phone call.
Prague (2017)
Rocky the Musical came to Prague for a short 4-to-5 month run. It was performed at the Prague Congress Centre.
Music
The show features 20 original songs,[43] with additional music taken from the original film series including "Eye of the Tiger" and "Gonna Fly Now".[44] The Broadway production of the musical uses a large twenty-member orchestra consisting of guitars, drums, bass, percussion, keyboards, reeds, flugelhorns, trumpets, trombone, bass trombone, violin, viola and cello.[45]
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