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Creating Back to the Future The Musical
The official behind-the-scenes companion to the stage musical adaptation of Back to the Future; includes the complete lyrics to all original songs!Welcome to Hill Valley! Creating Back to the Future The Musical offers fans of the film franchise and lovers of musical theater an engrossing, comprehensive, and entertaining look at the birth of a new theatrical classic as the timeless 1985 film was adapted for the stage. With unprecedented access to cast and crew, author Michael Klastorin shares exclusive, in-depth interviews and previously unpublished photography. His account details the yearslong process, and the creative ingenuity and technical innovation, that went into the show’s Manchester tryout and West End premiere. This essential companion to the musical will bring back fond memories for those who’ve seen it, and prepare those who haven’t for the greatest musical of all time!
Premiering at the Manchester Opera House in February 2020 to rave reviews—including a notice from the Guardian that the show set “a new standard of spectacle”—Back to the Future The Musical opened at London’s historic Adelphi Theatre on August 20, 2021, to universal acclaim and blockbuster ticket sales. Featuring music and lyrics by celebrated composers Alan Silvestri (Back to the Future trilogy, Endgame) and Glen Ballard (Jagged Little Pill) and a book by Bob Gale (Back to the Future trilogy), the musical is adapted from the original screenplay by Gale and Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump). Directed by Tony Award winner John Rando (Urinetown), the show introduced Tony Award winner Roger Bart as Doc Brown and Olly Dobson as Marty McFly.
Since its opening, the show has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Olivier Award for “Best New Musical.” Previews for the Broadway production begin on June 30, 2023 at the Winter Garden Theatre, with Bart returning to the Broadway stage to reprise his role as Doc. Hugh Coles, who originated the role of George McFly in the UK will mark his Broadway debut.
WINNER! BEST NEW MUSICALOlivier Awards 2022 * WhatsOnStage Awards 2022 * Broadway World Awards 2022
"People are going to be talking about this for a long time."
—The Guardian
Premiering at the Manchester Opera House in February 2020 to rave reviews—including a notice from the Guardian that the show set “a new standard of spectacle”—Back to the Future The Musical opened at London’s historic Adelphi Theatre on August 20, 2021, to universal acclaim and blockbuster ticket sales. Featuring music and lyrics by celebrated composers Alan Silvestri (Back to the Future trilogy, Endgame) and Glen Ballard (Jagged Little Pill) and a book by Bob Gale (Back to the Future trilogy), the musical is adapted from the original screenplay by Gale and Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump). Directed by Tony Award winner John Rando (Urinetown), the show introduced Tony Award winner Roger Bart as Doc Brown and Olly Dobson as Marty McFly.
Since its opening, the show has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Olivier Award for “Best New Musical.” Previews for the Broadway production begin on June 30, 2023 at the Winter Garden Theatre, with Bart returning to the Broadway stage to reprise his role as Doc. Hugh Coles, who originated the role of George McFly in the UK will mark his Broadway debut.
WINNER! BEST NEW MUSICALOlivier Awards 2022 * WhatsOnStage Awards 2022 * Broadway World Awards 2022
"People are going to be talking about this for a long time."
—The Guardian
- GenresNonfiction
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2023
6 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 16, 2023
Back to the Future has been one of my favourite films since I first saw it at the cinema way back in 1985. Like many people I couldn't see how a stage musical version would work. However, when I saw it at the Adelphi Theatre in London this year I absolutely loved it. It took the best elements from the film & added plenty of new ideas & some superb songs, helped by clever staging & a great cast.
Michael Klastorin has put together a wonderful book on the making of the musical with an incrediby informative text & some excellent photographs throughout.
There are interviews with a huge amount of people involved in bringing the show to life in Manchester & its later move to London's West End. An absolute delight to read & it's just as good as the author's outstanding guide to the Back to the Future films.
Michael Klastorin has put together a wonderful book on the making of the musical with an incrediby informative text & some excellent photographs throughout.
There are interviews with a huge amount of people involved in bringing the show to life in Manchester & its later move to London's West End. An absolute delight to read & it's just as good as the author's outstanding guide to the Back to the Future films.
August 11, 2023
One of my all-time favorite movie trilogies is Back To The Future. The others are the original Star Wars Trilogy and the Indiana Jones Trilogy.
Who can forget the incredible adventures of Marty McFly and ‘Doc’ Brown as they traverse time starting with 1955, to 2015 to 1885?
Filled with adventure, danger, humor and more than its fair share of surprises the Back To The Future Trilogy still resonates with movie goers today.
Writer Michael Klastorin and Abrams Books present Creating The Back To The Future The Musical a glorious and colorful hardbound book.
Bob Gale provides an introduction and director of all three films, Robert Zemeckis, writes the afterword with a foreword by Roger Bart.
How do you translate a hit movie to the stage and make it work? This book goes into great detail on just how it was done.
First there’s adapting the script, selecting a cast and recreating the classic scenes to fit on a stage, including the Delorean!
Visual effects were a must and just like the films they are incredible and impressive.
The entire script is broken down, including the musical numbers and each member of the stellar cast is spotlighted along with the production crew, director, producer and others.
Witness the construction of the various stage pieces, costume selections and the songs, musical numbers and so much more.
It’s a blast from the past using today’s cutting edge technology, a brand new cast, clever staging and best of all the blessing of the original cast and crew from the movie.
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." — Romans 8:26
Who can forget the incredible adventures of Marty McFly and ‘Doc’ Brown as they traverse time starting with 1955, to 2015 to 1885?
Filled with adventure, danger, humor and more than its fair share of surprises the Back To The Future Trilogy still resonates with movie goers today.
Writer Michael Klastorin and Abrams Books present Creating The Back To The Future The Musical a glorious and colorful hardbound book.
Bob Gale provides an introduction and director of all three films, Robert Zemeckis, writes the afterword with a foreword by Roger Bart.
How do you translate a hit movie to the stage and make it work? This book goes into great detail on just how it was done.
First there’s adapting the script, selecting a cast and recreating the classic scenes to fit on a stage, including the Delorean!
Visual effects were a must and just like the films they are incredible and impressive.
The entire script is broken down, including the musical numbers and each member of the stellar cast is spotlighted along with the production crew, director, producer and others.
Witness the construction of the various stage pieces, costume selections and the songs, musical numbers and so much more.
It’s a blast from the past using today’s cutting edge technology, a brand new cast, clever staging and best of all the blessing of the original cast and crew from the movie.
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." — Romans 8:26
March 3, 2024
Back to the Future is right at the top of my favourite movies of all time & subsequently means an awful lot to me … a quick blast of the score or sight of Michael J Fox can leave me teary-eyed in an instant so the fact that the creators of the original trilogy (Bob Gale & Zemeckis) are so firm in their stance that the legacy will not be tarnished is music to this viewers ears … with this in mind when I heard the news that they were behind a musical of the first film I had mixed feelings. I happen to love a good musical but still …
I saw the musical back in April ‘22 & LOVED every single second. It was one of the best days in recent times, purely joyous but the emotion that shone through was one of relief … those genius talents behind the franchise really didn’t screw up our favourite characters & the world they inhabit.
With the above in mind & being a big fan of Behind the Scenes books, I was eager to read Michael Klastorin’s book following the journey of the musical & it’s a wonderful account of not just BTTF but how a big budget musical is put together. It’s a remarkable story & the author has had unprecedented access due to his long-standing relationship with the BTTF team & this means he’s able to plot every twist & turn of the evolution of the show.
The only negative comment would relate to over a third of the book being devoted to the songs with full lyrics. It’s interesting as the lyrics are annotated by the cast & crew but does feel a little like padding.
Loved the book & a one that people will hopefully pick up in theatre lobbies after enjoying the show to learn quite what a Herculean effort it was by all involved to create such a brilliant show
I saw the musical back in April ‘22 & LOVED every single second. It was one of the best days in recent times, purely joyous but the emotion that shone through was one of relief … those genius talents behind the franchise really didn’t screw up our favourite characters & the world they inhabit.
With the above in mind & being a big fan of Behind the Scenes books, I was eager to read Michael Klastorin’s book following the journey of the musical & it’s a wonderful account of not just BTTF but how a big budget musical is put together. It’s a remarkable story & the author has had unprecedented access due to his long-standing relationship with the BTTF team & this means he’s able to plot every twist & turn of the evolution of the show.
The only negative comment would relate to over a third of the book being devoted to the songs with full lyrics. It’s interesting as the lyrics are annotated by the cast & crew but does feel a little like padding.
Loved the book & a one that people will hopefully pick up in theatre lobbies after enjoying the show to learn quite what a Herculean effort it was by all involved to create such a brilliant show
December 27, 2023
Very entertaining look into the musical with full coverage of everything except the backstage magic. A few instances of the timeline seem to be mistyped in the Act III pages when discussing the comeback from COVID (2020 and 2021 are both used when dating 2021 rehearsals and opening). Love the annotated lyrics at the end!
August 2, 2023
Probably should have seen the musical first
July 23, 2025
Such an amazing book and as a super fan who attended the opening nights it was a great trip down memory lane!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews