B'way's Movin' Out to Move Out of the Richard Rodgers Theatre on December 11
Movin' Out was conceived, directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp and is based on and features the Billy Joel songbook. Through song and dance, it tells the story of two turbulent American decades for a group of lifelong friends.
Movin' Out opened on Broadway to positive reviews on October 24, 2002. In his Broadway.com Review of the piece, Paul Wontorek wrote: "The odd coupling of Joel and Tharp is a surprise success, and both artists come out the better for the meeting. Movin' Out uses 24 of Grammy-winner Joel's rock and pop hits--performed live by inexhaustible piano man Michael Cavanaugh and a smoking nine-piece band which reminds us why live is better than Memorex--and a handful of pre-recorded pieces written for his 2001 classical piano album Fantasies & Delusions. The career retrospective… overpowers Joel's recent public battles with loneliness and the bottle and reconfirms his immense songwriting talents. Tharp, meanwhile, proves that even she can wow Broadway audiences with a full-length pop ballet that remains deeply rooted in classical dance. Audiences looking for some big-time Broadway hoofing won't be disappointed by even the more eccentric moments of Tharp's Movin' Out work, which invites everyone in to join in the fun."
Movin' Out, which made a profit on Broadway, will continue to tour.