Superhero

by John Logan, Tom Kitt (Composer)

From the Pulitzer Prize, Tony and Emmy Award-winning composer of Next to Normal (Tom Kitt) and the Tony Award-winning writer of Red (John Logan), Superhero is a deeply human new musical about a fractured family, the mysterious stranger in apartment 4-B, and the unexpected hero who just might save the day. Directed by Jason Moore (The Cher Show, Avenue Q), Superhero made its world premiere in January 2019 at Second Stage Theater.
"Kitt writes beautifully for his anguished characters, shaping the lyrics to each distinct voice." - Alexis Soloski, The Guardian
"[Kitt's] lyrics are neatly turned and germane." - Michael Sommers, New York Stage Review
"[The] book is intelligent and the songs are well-integrated into it." - Robert Sholiton, Gotham Playgoer

102 pages, Paperback

Published February 7, 2022

About the author

Logan was a successful playwright in Chicago for many years before turning to screenwriting. His first play, Never the Sinner, tells the story of the infamous Leopold and Loeb case. Subsequent plays include Hauptmann, about the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, and Riverview, a musical melodrama set at Chicago's famed amusement park.

His play Red, about artist Mark Rothko, was produced by the Donmar Warehouse, London in December 2009, and on Broadway, where it received six Tony Awards in mid-June, 2010, the most of any play, including best play, best direction of a play for Michael Grandage and best featured actor in a play for Eddie Redmayne. Redmayne and Alfred Molina had originated their roles in London and brought them to New York for a limited run ending in late June.

Logan wrote Any Given Sunday and the television movie RKO 281, before gaining an Academy Award nomination for co-writing the Best Picture-winner, Gladiator in 2000. He gained another nomination for writing 2004's The Aviator, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Martin Scorsese.

Other notable films written by Logan include Star Trek: Nemesis, The Time Machine, The Last Samurai, and the Tim Burton-directed musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, for which he received a Golden Globe Award.

Logan's most recent feature films include Rango, an animated feature starring Johnny Depp and directed by Gore Verbinski, the film adaptation of Shakespeare's Coriolanus directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes, and the film adaptation of The Invention of Hugo Cabret directed by Martin Scorsese. Logan co-wrote the scripts to the James Bond films, Skyfall and Spectre.

Reviews

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting premise for a show, I’d love to see how it looks onstage. Kate Baldwin’s voice is lovely, as always. I do think the script would be tighter and more poignant with fewer solos for the main characters— it might work as more of a 60-90min one act? But I love a good superhero story and it’s the same composer as Next to Normal.

[Will Farris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this musical. The songs are fantastic. Would love to see a production of this live one day.