Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story Tickets
About Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story is inspired by the life of Buddy Holly, who quickly rose to fame in the 1950s before a tragic plane crash that took his life a few years later. Written by Alan Janes, the musical premiered on the West End in 1989 and ran for 12 years and over 5,100 performances!
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story played at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway during the 1990-91 season before going on a long 52-week tour. The show is now in Chicagoland, where audiences can rock to Holly’s biggest hits like “Peggy Sue” and “True Love Ways.” Marriott Theatre’s latest production of the rockabilly musical stars Kieran McCabe as Holly; McCabe last appeared at the theatre in Million Dollar Quartet as Fluke.
Janes’s homage to Buddy Holly is one of the first jukebox musicals on the market. It is frequently billed as “The World’s Most Successful Rock ‘n’ Roll Musical” because of the numerous productions that have taken place worldwide in its 30-year history.
More information about Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story
Marriott Theatre’s Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story director Amber Mak is a familiar name for Chicagoland theatre fans. Mak’s credits in the Windy City include directing and choreographing The Sound of Music at Paramount Theatre, choreographing Nell Gwynn at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and choreographing The Secret of My Success at Paramount Theatre.
Kieran McCabe, who plays Buddy Holly, is a recording artist. You can find McCabe’s music with The Oh Boys, Echo Kid, and Pinnings. (If you love him as Holly, check out The Oh Boys.)
Because of his untimely death, there have been more performances of Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story the musical than the actual Holly could perform. This musical has been performed in at least 20 countries, totaling over 23,000 performances of the original production, official tours, and Broadway run. And that doesn’t include all the regional productions!
What to Watch For
- Since the show is based on Holly’s real-life performances, it’s relatively complex in props and wardrobe. Holly loved to slide across the stage during performances, resulting in many split pants and broken pairs of his iconic horn-rimmed glasses.
- Actor Paul Hipp originated the role of Holly on the West End and Broadway. Hipp is best known on screen as Fitch from Face/Off, Joe Odom from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and the delightful Reverend TimTom in The Middle.
- Paul McCartney gave Alan Janes the blessing to create Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story. McCartney owned the publishing rights to Holly’s music, and his go-ahead allowed the show to move forward.
- There is a film with almost the same name titled The Buddy Holly Story from 1978. The film starred Gary Busey as Buddy, who did all his own singing for the role.
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