‘Escape To Margaritaville’ Opens On Broadway: How Did It Do?

Escape to Margaritaville officially opens on Broadway and stars Paul Alexander Nolan, Alison Luff, and more.

Jimmy Buffett's songs are featured in the stage play, and they tell the story of a relaxed island paradise and its inhabitants, including a carefree bartender and a career-minded scientist who eventually fall in love.

Nolan plays the role of the island bartender named Tully, and Luff plays the role of Rachel. Other cast members include Lisa Howard as Tammy, Eric Petersen as Brick, Rema Webb as Marley, Don Sparks as J.D., and Andre Ward as Jamal.

Escape to Margaritaville is directed by Christopher Ashley, and it features choreography by Kelly Devine, sets by Walt Spangler, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Brian Ronan, and orchestrations by Michael Utley.

'Escape to Margaritaville' Reviews

The Escape to Margaritaville, which premiered on March 15, has received a slew of mixed reviews. The New York Times claims that the Broadway musical became a hit because of Buffett's songs, namely "Cheeseburger In Paradise," "Five O'Clock Somewhere," and "License to Chill."

"The story, concocted from clichés that were already droopy when they appeared in almost every other jukebox musical ever written, does not require you to put your thinking cap on. Mostly it asks you to notice the winking way it sets up situations that will later make Mr. Buffett's lyrics seem as if they were custom fitted to the yarn rather than the other way around," wrote Jesse Green.

Variety dubbed Escape to Margaritaville as laid-back. Marilyn Stasio said that the show is not a good fit for New York. However, Stasio added that it is possible for the Broadway show to make it big in the north, west, and south of the United States.

The Washington Post described the show as a "dud." Peter Marks even called it a "dumb show," and he blamed Buffett for encouraging Greg Garcia and Mike O'Malley to write for the project.

"How could Buffett and company, in this fun-starved beach party, so deleteriously have taken their eye off the ball? Oh, speaking of, at the end of the show, hundreds of beach balls are dumped on the audience," wrote Marks.

Escape to Margaritaville is an over two-hour show. Tickets are priced between $59 and $169, and they may be purchased online. The show is staged at the Marquis Theater in New York.

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Jimmy Buffett