They will be seen at the Moulin Rouge! In the lead roles of the musical – The grand musical will have its Finnish premiere in August

The role of courtesan Satine is played by Jennie Storbacka, who has previously been seen on the stage of the Helsinki City Theatre in the lead role in the musical Miss Saigon and the Diva in the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The role of the bohemian young composer, Christian, is played by the talented Martti Manninen, who last shone on the HKT stage as Prince Erik in The Little Mermaid. Harold Zidler, the owner of the nightclub, is joined by the charismatic Risto Kaskilahti. Other roles are played by Joel Mäkinen (Duke of Monroth), Matti Leino (Santiago), Antti Lang (Henri Toulouse-Lautrec), Laura Allonen (Nini), Samuli Saurén (Baby Doll), Yasmine Yamajako (La Chocolat) and Raili Raitala (Arabia).

“It is a great honor for me to be able to play the role of Satine! The role is iconic and challenging, and I look forward to diving into Satine’s life and bringing him to life on the big stage of HKT. There are many different sides to Satine, and I want to highlight each of them. In 2004, I got to play my first lead role with HKT in the musical Miss Saigon, and what better way to celebrate 20 years on the stage than to step into the Moulin Rouge! Into the magical world of the musical in Satine’s shoes,” Jennie Storbacka rejoices.

Moulin Rouge! The musical is part of a Nordic co-production, and HKT’s own solid musical expertise is strengthened by top international professionals. The musical is directed by Anders Albien from Sweden. The chief conductor is Eeva Kontu and her partner is the rehearsal and performance conductor Ville Myllykoski. The set design is designed by the internationally award-winning designer takis. The costumes are designed by Astrid Lynge Ottonen and the camouflage by Maija Sillanpää. The lighting design is by Palle Palmé and the sound design by Kai Poutanen. The choreography is by Jennie Widegren, Anja Gaardbo, Kirsty McDonald and Zain Odelstål. The musical has been translated into Finnish by Paavo Leppäkoski and the dramaturg is Henna Piirto.

“I’m really happy to be able to make Moulin Rouge! Musicals in Finland. We are working hard with the design team and are looking forward to starting the rehearsals in April. We have performed the musical to full houses in Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen, and hopefully we will do the same in Helsinki. The Helsinki performance will be the largest of all, as there will be more than 30 actors and dancers on stage. This is a demanding work for the performers, but the auditions made me really happy. I am very impressed by the high level of Finnish musical expertise. I am also very happy to make my debut as a director at the Helsinki City Theatre, which has been home to many great musical successes throughout its history,” says director Anders Albien.

Moulin Rouge! The musical is a visual spectacle and a breathtaking love story. An abundance of truth, beauty, freedom, and love, this celebration takes the viewer to an iconic nightclub in Paris, where anything is allowed in the late 1800s. Written by John Logan, the musical is based on the Oscar-winning 2001 film Moulin Rouge!, directed by Baz Luhrmann. The musical, which charmed audiences and critics alike, premiered on Broadway in 2019. The musical has won ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and features more than 70 of the biggest hits in music history, including David Bowie, Lady Gaga, Sting, Rihanna, The Rolling Stones, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Madonna, WhitneyHouston, Elton John and Adele.

The musical is performed in Finnish. All performances will be subtitled in Finnish, Swedish and English.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical premiere on 29.8.2024 on the big stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Eläintarhantie 5).

Tickets: basic ticket 92 €, student ticket 46 € (Mon-Thu) and pensioner ticket 89 € (Mon-Thu)
#moulinrougemusikaali @hktfi

Helsinki City Theatre’s ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 394022 Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket offices First line 2, Mon-Fri 12-17, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11-18 and one hour before the performance and Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9-21, Sun 10-18, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/min + local network charge) www.hkt.fi

In the photo: Risto Kaskilahti, Jennie Storbacka and Martti Manninen. Photo: Otto-Ville Väätäinen.

Further information, media ticket reservations and interview requests:
Kaisa Pelkonen, Communications Manager, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki

Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Screenplay: John Logan
Arrangement, orchestration, additional music and lyrics: Justin Levine
Music choreographic arrangement: Justin Levine and Matt Stine
Orchestration collaboration: Katie Kresek, Charlie Rosen and Matt Stine

Moulin Rouge! movie
Moulin Rouge!, directed by Baz Luhrmann and published by 20th Century Studios, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2001. It won Best Musical or Comedy Film at the Golden Globes and was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, of which it won two. Filmed in Sydney, Australia, the film Moulin Rouge! has been praised for reviving the film musical genre, and its soundtrack became an instant hit upon its release.

Paris Moulin Rouge
The Moulin Rouge in Paris, led by Jean-Jacques Clerico, is a dazzling and spectacular world of its own, a symbol of Parisian nightlife since 1889. Originally a popular cabaret and ballroom, the venue became an iconic music hall during the golden 20th century and later a theater where numerous French and international artists stepped into the limelight. Today, the Moulin Rouge and its 60 artists perform the Féerie revue show: a two-hour amazing cabaret and music hall performance in which dance scenes and surprise numbers alternate – not forgetting the Moulin Rouge’s signature dance, the French cancan! Since its inception, the Moulin Rouge in Paris has invited the public to live and experience together the unique atmosphere of celebration and the turmoil of emotions. www.moulinrouge.fr