The View UpStairs


The View UpStairs is a musical with music, lyrics and book by Max Vernon based on the real-life events of the 1973 arson attack at the UpStairs Lounge, a gay bar in New Orleans. This attack resulted in the deaths of 32 people, the deadliest attack on a gay club in U.S. history before the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting. The show is inspired by and pays tributes to many of the patrons who frequented the venue.
The single-act show runs for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes and is set entirely within the UpStairs Lounge.

Background

The show's score was composed by Max Vernon in 2013 and was first performed on 24 June of that year in a concert setting with performers such as Michael McElroy and Nathan Lee Graham amongst others. The show then went into a workshop period in March 2016 under Invisible Wall Productions with Scott Ebersold as director and Matt Aument as musical director. The cast performed a benefit concert on July 11, 2016 for the victims and survivors of the Orlando nightclub shooting, with all proceeds going to the 'Equality Florida' institution.

Characters

The View UpStairs was first produced Off-Broadway by Invisible Wall Productions, and was also under the direction of Scott Ebersold. It began previews on February 15, 2017 at the Lynn Redgrave Theater in New York and officially premiered on February 26, before closing on May 21, 2017. It has since received a regional premiere in Richmond, Virginia and Los Angeles.
The show had its international premiere at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney, Australia, under the direction of Shaun Rennie. The show was put on as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and began previews on 8 February 2018 before opening on 11 February. The sold out season of 33 performances concluded on 11 March 2018.
Following the success of prior productions of the musical, several US regional productions were scheduled for the 2018-2019 season including:
The show was announced to have its European premier at the Soho Theatre in London. This production was directed by Jonathan O’Boyle and ran from 18 July to 24 August 2019.

Original casts

Song list

The Original Off-Broadway Cast recording was released on 11 August 2017. The soundtrack is as follows:
  1. Some Kind of Paradise
  2. #householdname
  3. Lost or Found?
  4. What I Did Today
  5. Are You Listening, God?
  6. World Outside These Walls
  7. Completely Overdone
  8. The Future is Great!!!!
  9. Waltz
  10. Sex on Legs
  11. Better Than Silence
  12. The Most Important Thing
  13. Crazy Notion
  14. Theme Song
  15. The View UpStairs
  16. Bonus Track: And I Wish
  17. Bonus Track: Dead Center
  18. Bonus Track: I Was Meant For More

    Awards and nominations

Original Off-Broadway production

Source: Lortel.org
YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2017Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Set Design of a MusicalJason Sherwood
2017Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Costume DesignAnita Yavich
2017Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Wig and HairJason Hayes
2017Off Broadway Alliance AwardsBest MusicalThe View UpStairs
2017Audelco AwardDirector/Musical ProductionScott Ebersold
2017Audelco AwardOutstanding Performance in a Musical - MaleNathan Lee Graham
2017Audelco AwardOutstanding Musical DirectorJames Dobinson
2017Audelco AwardMusical Production of the YearThe View UpStairs
2017Lortel AwardOutstanding Featured Actor in a MusicalNathan Lee Graham
2017Lortel AwardOutstanding Scenic DesignJason Sherwood
2017Henry Hewes Design AwardsScenic DesignJason Sherwood
2017Henry Hewes Design AwardsCostume DesignAnita Yavich
2017----

Sydney production