Show History

History

Inspiration

Bonnie & Clyde, with music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black and a book by Ivan Menchell, is a musicalized take on the true story of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, a pair of outlaws and lovers who gained notoriety during the Great Depression. Wildhorn had previously collaborated with Black on Dracula The Musical, and came to him about writing a song cycle based on Bonnie and Clyde's story. They came out with a thirteen-song demo that featured performances from Rob Evan, Brandi Burkhardt and Linda Eder; only five songs of the demo were kept for the musical itself. Wildhorn and Black's score is a hodgepodge of country and western (based on the Texas setting), blues and Broadway pop music.

Productions

Bonnie & Clyde started as an industry-only reading at the Roundabout Theatre Company with Laura Osnes and Stark Sands. The musical officially premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse on November 22, 2009, featuring the same two leads. A positive reception from the run in California led to a return engagement at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. It ran from November 19, to December 19, 2010, with Jeremy Jordan replacing Sands in the role of Clyde.

The success from Florida's production led the way for a run on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. With reprises from Osnes and Jordan, it opened on December 1, 2011. Despite a continued positive reception from audiences, low ticket sales prompted producers to announce that the show would close early. The run ended on December 30, after only 36 regular performances.

The musical has seen a handful of international productions. A Japanese-language production played in Tokyo from late 2011 to early 2012. On September 23, 2013, a Korean language production premiered in Seoul. Most recently, ArtsEd in Chiwick, London, staged the UK premiere from January 17-25, 2014.