Flying Over Sunset

Flying Over Sunset is a musical with music by Tom Kitt, lyrics by Michael Korie, and a book by James Lapine.^[1] The musical is a fictional account of a meeting between Aldous Huxley, Clare Boothe Luce and Cary Grant, who all used the drug LSD.

Productions

Readings (2015 and 2016)

The musical had a reading in August 2015 at the Vineyard Arts Project (Martha's Vineyard) with Christine Ebersole playing Luce, and a cast featuring Boyd Gaines, Julia Murney, Tam Mutu and David Turner.^[2][3]

A second reading was held on July 29, 2016 in Edgartown, Massachusetts. Performers who took part in the reading included the late Marin Mazzie, Boyd Gaines, Betsy Wolfe, Tam Mutu and Jennifer Simard.^[4]

Broadway (2021)

The production was originally scheduled to open on April 16, 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[5][6]

The musical premiered on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on November 11, 2021 in previews with the official opening on December 13, 2021.^[7][8]

The cast included Carmen Cusack as Clare Boothe Luce, Harry Hadden-Paton as Aldous Huxley, Tony Yazbeck as Cary Grant, and Robert Sella as Gerald Heard. The musical was directed by Lapine with choreography by Michelle Dorrance, sets by Beowulf Boritt, costumes by Toni-Leslie James, lighting by Bradley King, and sound by Dan Moses Schreier.^[7][9]

The production closed on January 16, 2022 after 63 performances (28 previews and 35 performances).^[10]

Plot

Act l

Huxley, Grant, and Luce separately obtained LSD. Each is dealing with a problem: Huxley is grieving his wife's death, Grant his ineptitude with women, and Luce her guilt over the deaths of her mother and daughter.^[11] Huxley takes LSD at the drugstore where he obtained it, and imagines the figures from the painting “Judith With the Head of Holofernes” coming to life around him ("Bella Donna Di Agonia").^[11][12] Grant's first trip is when he meets his younger self and his violent father ("I Have It All"/"Funny Money").^[11][12][13]

The three ultimately meet at the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood.^[11]

Act ll

Huxley, Grant, and Luce gather at Luce's estate in Malibu, where they proceed on LSD trips with Gerald Heard as their guide.^[11]

Cast

Musical numbers

Source: Playbill^[14]

Act I

• "The Music Plays On" - Company
• "Bella Donna Di Agonia" - Judith, Handmaiden, Aldous
• "Wondrous" - Aldous
• "Bella Donna Di Agonia" (Reprise) - Aldous
• "I Have It All" - Cary
• "Funny Money" - Archie, Cary, Father
• "A Sapphire Dragonfly" - Clare, Ann, Austin
• "Someone" - Clare
• "Flying Over Sunset" - Clare, Gerald, Ann, Austin
• "Flying Over Sunset" (Reprise) - Clare, Aldous, Gerald, Cary, Company

Act II

• "Om" - Gerald, Clare, Aldous, Cary
• "Huxley Knows" - Clare, Cary, Aldous
• "My Mother and I" - Clare, Cary, Gerald, Archie, Father, Ann, Austin
• "The Music Plays On" (Reprise) - Aldous, Maria
• "I Like to Lead" - Sophia, Cary
• "Rocket Ship" - Cary
• "An Interesting Place" - Austin, Ann, Clare
• "If Only I'd Known" - Clare, Austin, Ann
• "How?" - Clare
• "Three Englishmen" - Cary, Gerald, Aldous
• "The Melancholy Hour" - Maria, Ann, Austin, Archie, Father, Rosalia
• "The 23rd Ingredient" - Clare, Cary, Aldous, Gerald
• "Bella Donna Di Agonia" (2nd Reprise) - Judith, Handmaiden

Reception

The show received mixed to negative reviews from critics, including AmNY,^[15] The New York Times,^[11] Theatrely,^[13] and Timeout.^[16] Generally, critics tended to dislike the book and music, while praising the show's cast, technical effects, set, sound design, and choreography.

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

Flying Over Sunset tied with MJ the Musical for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical.

References

1. ^ Theater, Lincoln Center. "Flying Over Sunset". Lincoln Center Theater. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
2. ^ Viagas, Robert (April 14, 2016). "James Lapine, Tom Kitt and Michael Korie Working on New Musical About LSD". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
3. ^ Nadler, Holly (September 2, 2015). "Flying Over Sunset lifts off at the Vineyard Arts Project". Martha's Vineyard Times
4. ^ Viagas, Robert (July 29, 2016). "Marin Mazzie Toplines Today's Reading of James Lapine's LSD Musical". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
5. ^ Evans, Greg (2020-06-24). "Broadway's 'The Music Man', 'Flying Over Sunset' Postponed Until 2021 Amid Speculation Of Theater Shutdown Extension – Update". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
6. ^ Lincoln Center Pushes to Fall 2020 BroadwayWorld, March 20, 2020
7. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 13, 2021). "Lincoln Center Theater's Flying Over Sunset Will Open This Fall; Intimate Apparel Sets 2022 Dates". Playibll. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
8. ^ "Photos: FLYING OVER SUNSET Celebrates Opening Night on Broadway". BroadwayWorld. 2021-12-14. Archived 2021-12-14 at the Wayback Machine.
9. ^ Clement, Olivia (August 20, 2019). "Carmen Cusack, Harry Hadden-Paton, and Tony Yazbeck to Lead Cast of New Broadway Musical Flying Over Sunset". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
10. ^ "FLYING OVER SUNSET to End Broadway Run Early; Final Performance January 16". BroadwayWorld. 2022-01-05. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
11. ^ Green, Jesse (2021-12-14). "Review: In 'Flying Over Sunset,' Getting High With the Stars". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
12. ^ Evans, Greg (2021-12-14). "'Flying Over Sunset' Broadway Review: Musical Day Tripping With Cary Grant & Some Famous Friends". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
13. ^ "FLYING OVER SUNSET On a Smoothed-Out Trip — Review". www.theatrely.com. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
14. ^ "Inside Playbill Gallery". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
15. ^ Windman, Matt (2021-12-13). "Review | 'Flying Over Sunset' is an artistic misfire | amNewYork". www.amny.com. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
16. ^ Feldman, Adam. "Flying Over Sunset is an odd Broadway musical about LSD". Time Out New York. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
17. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 9, 2022). "2022 Tony Award Nominations: A Strange Loop, MJ, Paradise Square Lead the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
18. ^ Lewis, Hilary (June 12, 2022). "Tony Awards: Winners List (Updating Live)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
19. ^ "66th Drama Desk Awards". Drama Desk Awards. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
20. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (June 8, 2022). "Clyde's, Company, SIX: The Musical Lead 2022 Drama Desk Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
21. ^ Gans, Andrew (April 26, 2022). "Nominees for 71st Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards Announced". Playbill. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
22. ^ "2022 Chita Rivera Awards Nominations and Winners". ChitaRiveraAwards.com. Retrieved 11 February 2025.

External links

• Flying Over Sunset Internet Broadway Database
• Flying Over Sunset Lincoln Center