Groundhog Day tells the story of Phil Connors (Andy Karl), a disgruntled big-city weatherman mysteriously stuck in small-town America reliving the same day over and over and over again. But when he gets to know associate TV producer Rita (Barrett Doss), he discovers that a day of second, third and fourth chances just might bring him the promise of a lifetime. It's a classic boy meets girl... boy meets girl... boy meets girl story.
Based on the iconic film, Groundhog Day is re-imagined by the award-winning creators of the international hit Matilda The Musical- including director Matthew Warchus and songwriter Tim Minchin- with a book by original screenwriter Danny Rubin. Starring two-time Tony Award nominee Andy Karl, Groundhog Day is the new musical comedy about living life to the fullest, one day at a time.
This embracing of convention which Groundhog Day ultimately proposes is wrapped in a familiar redemption story. Yet the best things about Groundhog Day the musical are when the strangeness of the town, and Phil's extreme, snarled responses to it, are left on full, jangling boil. The musical is less convincing when it muffles itself to niceness; and it meanders far too lackadaisically to a conclusion. But at its center is Karl, a newly-minted Broadway hero, bravely performing through his pain. The question is, can he do this without hurting himself further, and should the producers let him: human costs versus performing costs.
Under Matthew Warchus's helming, Phil's adventures in Punxsutawney are like Alice's adventures in Wonderland - fantastical and fun. Rob Howell's set designs and Paul Kieve's illusions rely on amusing optical illusions like miniature car chases and teeny-tiny houses that curl around the proscenium. These funny folk even build a sort-of functional truck on stage.
2016 | West End |
World Premiere Production West End |
2017 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2023 | West End |
West End |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Andy Karl |
2017 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Andy Karl |
2017 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Broadway of Off-Broadway Musical | Groundhog Day |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Andy Karl |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Danny Rubin |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Matthew Warchus |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Musical | Groundhog Day |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Tim Minchin |
2017 | Theatre World Awards | Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance | Barrett Doss |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Danny Rubin |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Ellen Kane |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Matthew Warchus |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | Groundhog Day The Musical |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | Tim Minchin |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | Andy Karl |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Rob Howell |
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