Burlesque (stage musical)

Burlesque
A Big New Musical
Promotional Logo
Music	Christina Aguilera Sia Diane Warren Todrick Hall Jess Folley
Lyrics	Christina Aguilera Sia Diane Warren Todrick Hall Jess Folley
Book	Steven Antin Kate Wetherhead (additional material)
Basis	Burlesque by Steven Antin
Premiere	13 June 2024: Manchester Opera House
Productions	2024 Manchester 2024 Glasgow 2025 West End

Burlesque is a musical with a book by Steven Antin and additional material by Kate Wetherhead, and music and lyrics by Christina Aguilera, Sia, Diane Warren, Todrick Hall, and Jess Folley. It is based on Antin's 2010 film.

The musical's story centers on Ali Rose, an aspiring singer, who leaves her small hometown for New York in search for her mother; she becomes a dancer at a burlesque club.

Directed and choreographed by Nick Winston, the original production of Burlesque played in Manchester, England, at the Manchester Opera House in June and October 2024, and in Glasgow, Scotland, at the Theatre Royal in September of the same year. The show made its West End debut at the Savoy Theatre in London in July 2025.

Tess introduces us to the Burlesque Lounge, a burlesque venue in New York ("Welcome to Burlesque"). In her small town in Iowa, Ali is rehearsing with her choir ("Something's Got A Hold On Me") and she keeps stepping out of line, and loudly riffing to the song. Miss Loretta, her choir teacher, supports her and encourages her to look for her biological mother, Theresa, who gave her up for adoption when she was little and now lives in New York, after sending her a letter, hoping Ali will then find her place ("Got It All From You").

Back at the Burlesque Lounge the show continues with a couple of short numbers from Dafne ("What Are Clothes") and Queenie ("Pretty Girls Only"). Ali arrives and briefly speaks to Jackson, the barman, then sneaks backstage looking for Theresa, now known as Tess, but is rudely dismissed by her, when trying to tell her she's her daughter. Nikki, one of the lead girls, performs her solo after an argument with Tess about always being late and drinking too much ("Sugar Daddy Diet").

Instead of going back home to Iowa, Jackson offers Ali to stay on his couch for the night and the two share a moment in his apartment ("Too Soon"), which ends when Jackson receives a call from his girlfriend Natalie.

Ali is hired as a waitress at the Burlesque, with the help of Jackson, with a warning that Tess hates waitresses whose goal is to star in the Burlesque. While cleaning tables Ali cannot resist but bursting into song ("Don't Make Me Sing"). Sean introduces Ali to the history of burlesque as a genre, after her comment about the Burlesque being a strip club ("Big"). Tess is in financial trouble and risks losing the Burlesque, thanks to Sean she is not giving up and determined to continue fighting ("You Haven't Seen the Last of Me").

Vince, Tess ex-husband, finds the Burlesque last notice and also Ali's letter, and decides to use the information against his ex-wife ("Ammo"). At Jackson's apartment, Ali and Jack are growing closer. She finds his music and starts playing one of his songs on the keyboard, with Jack joining in ("Show Me How You Burlesque - pre reprise"). Jack suggests Ali as the replacement for Nikki, who has been fired by Tess. Tess dares her to sing for the Burlesque audience and Ali surprises everyone with incredible talent ("Tough Lover").

Back at the Burlesque Lounge, Tess has agreed to make some changes to the show, adding new ideas suggested by Ali ("Express"). Some new numbers are shown, including ("Bump & Grind"), which features a heavily pregnant Sophia.

Vince secretly hears a conversation between Sean and Tess, where she mentions a deposit she has saved for her daughter. He convinces Nikki to impersonate Ali, by stealing her driver's licence and key to the deposit box and collect the money from the bank, while Ali is performing at the Burlesque ("Bad Girl/Good Girl"). After the show, Ali and Tess share a moment backstage, with Tess sharing how she loves the performers as her own daughters and showing Ali how to put on make-up ("Make-Up").

Jack sings a song about Natalie ("Natalie") and the two break-up. Ali and Jack get together, with Ali also slowly becoming the star of the Burlesque ("Bound to You"). Ali suggests to Tess to have Sean choreograph a number for the show ("Bigger").

On 29 September 2023, it was announced that Steven Antin was writing and producing a stage musical adaptation of his 2010 film Burlesque. Christina Aguilera, who played the lead role in the film, joined the project as a producer. It was also announced that Aguilera, Sia, and Diane Warren returned to rework the songs they wrote for the original film, while Todrick Hall and Jess Folley were in charge of writing new songs.^[1]

In November 2023, the musical was officially announced, and producers confirmed that it would have its world premiere in the United Kingdom in 2024.^[2]

The musical premiered at the Manchester Opera House in Manchester, England, on 13 June 2024, where it ran until 29 June. The show then played at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, Scotland, from September 11 to 28, 2024, and returned to Manchester from 3 October to 2 November.^[3]

The show was directed and choreographed by Nick Winston, and produced by Steven Antin, Christina Aguilera, Adam Paulden, Jason Haigh-Ellery, Sue Gilad, and Larry Rogowsky. Ryan-Lee Seager served as an associate director and choreographer, while Antin's sister, Robin Antin also served as an associate choreographer and a creative co-producer. The musical had costumes by Ryan Dawson Laight, scenic design by Soutra Gilmour, lighting by Jack Knowles, and sound by Ben Harrison.^[4]

The original cast featured Jess Folley as Ali Rose, Jackie Burns as Tess, George Maguire as Vince, and Todrick Hall as Sean.^[5][4]

The musical played at the Savoy Theatre in London for a limited engagement from 10 July until September 6, 2025.^[6] Todrick Hall replaced Nick Winston as director and choreographer.^[7][8] Hall also reprised his role as Sean along with Jess Folley as Ali, and George Maguire as Vince. Joining the principal cast were Orfeh as Tess, Paul Jacob French as Jackson, and Asha Parker Wallace as Nikki.^[9]

In an interview Hall confirmed that the show was supposed to open in a different venue, but with the Savoy Theatre becoming available earlier, Hall had to step in as choreographer, as the new expected choreographer, Christopher Gattelli, was not available at the time.^[10] Some issues then began to be reported, from the production following its first preview performance, with some costumes reported to not have been ready for the performance and severe delays caused the performance to play for 3 hours and 40 minutes, with an alleged report saying the actors were not paid over time for the delay. The song “Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” was also reportedly cut from the first preview, causing public outcry on social media, including from the songwriter Diane Warren who was involved as a creative in the Manchester production. Warren later said on Instagram, as a response, that the show was no longer an adaptation of the original film and is instead lightly inspired by the film. The song was later added back to the production with the songwriter credited and Warren deleting her comments on social medias.

Equity have since said that they’ve began engaging with members and producers after a number of issues were raised.^[11]

†Only in the song list for London West End previews.

††Replacing "Masterpiece" after London West End previews.

• Official website