Amélie is a musical based on the 2001 romantic comedy film of the same name with music by Daniel Messé, lyrics by Messé and Nathan Tysen and a book by Craig Lucas. The musical premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2015. The musical began previews on Broadway on March 9, 2017 at the Walter Kerr Theatre, before opening April 3, 2017. It closed after 83 performances on May 21, 2017.
A substantially transformed production, with new orchestrations, an expanded repertoire of songs, and new staging in the actor/muso style, opened on the West End in December 2019, at the Other Palace. Critics praised its improvements on the Broadway version, with The Guardian describing it as "a triumph of adaptation" "high on imagination", while The Daily Telegraph lauded the "wonderful, wistful evening" it made. It was nominated for three awards at the 2020 Laurence Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Original Score or New Orchestrations, and Best Actress in a Musical (for Audrey Brisson as Amélie).
Productions Daniel Messé (of Hem) wrote the lyrics with Nathan Tysen, Craig Lucas wrote the book, and Messé wrote the music in the adaptation of the movie for the stage." 'Amelie, A New Musical' Los Angeles" centertheatregroup.org, accessed October 18, 2016
Berkeley Repertory Theatre (2015) Amélie had its premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. The musical was directed by Pam MacKinnon and starred Samantha Barks in the titular role of Amélie, with scenic and costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Jane Cox and Mark Barton and projections by Peter Nigrini.
Los Angeles (2016) The musical opened at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles in a pre-Broadway engagement, running from December 4, 2016 to January 15, 2017 with Phillipa Soo taking over the role of Amélie.Clement, Olivia. "What Do Critics Think of the Broadway-Bound 'Amélie?'" Playbill, December 19, 2016 The cast for the Los Angeles and Broadway productions includes Adam Chanler-Berat, Manoel Felciano, and Tony Sheldon.Viagas, Robert. "Full Cast Announced for Broadway-Aimed Amélie Musical" Playbill, October 17, 2016
Broadway (2017) The musical opened on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre on March 9, 2017, in previews, officially on April 3.Viagas, Robert. " 'Amélie' Musical Books Broadway Dates and Theatre" Playbill, November 16, 2016 Direction is by Pam MacKinnon with musical staging and choreography by Sam Pinkleton. Puppet design is by Amanda Villalobos. The show closed on May 21, 2017, after 27 previews and 56 regular performances.McPhee, Ryan. " 'Amélie', Starring Phillipa Soo, Sets Broadway Closing Date" Playbill, May 4, 2017
Japan (2018) The musical opened at The Galaxy Theater in Tokyo, Japan for a limited engagement on May 18 to June 3, 2018. The musical then opened for a limited engagement at Morinomiya Piloti Hall, Osaka, on June 7 to June 10. Direction was by Akiko Kodama with choreography by Kuroda Eriko and Nishikawa Taku. The production used a new staging by Yagi Emiko and was translated into Japanese by Shigai Tsu. The cast for the Japanese production included Watanabe Mayu as Amélie and Atsuhi Ota as Nino.
Germany (2019) The musical, under the title "Die fabelhafte Welt der Amélie" (The Fabulous World of Amélie) had its European premiere in Germany in February 2019 at the Werk7 Theater in Munich produced by Uschi Neuss and Joop Van Den Ende. On the 13th of November 2018 It was announced that Sandra Leitner would star as Amélie in the German production.
UK (2019–2021) The musical premiered in the United Kingdom at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury, where it ran from 11 April to 18 May 2019, before embarking on a UK tour. Directed by Michael Fentiman, the production is noted for using the actor-muso approach, where the actors themselves provides the musical accompaniment. Fentiman and his creative team worked with original collaborators Messé, Tysen, and Lucas to amend the show, making changes such as splitting it into two acts separated by an intermission, the reinstitution of songs from out-of-town tryouts, and the reshuffling of scenes. The final book is what is now licensed through Concord Theatricals. The original Watermill cast included Audrey Brisson as Amélie and Chris Jared as Nino. Danny Mac later joined the cast as Nino. The production made its London debut at The Other Palace during the Christmas season, from 29 November 2019 until 1 February 2020. The entire UK tour cast (with the exception of Mac, who was replaced by Jared) reprised their respective roles in the London run. The show was favourably reviewed.
The show was nominated for 3 Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical and Best Actress in a Musical for Brisson, in the 2020 ceremony. The show's album was also nominated for Best Musical Theater Album in the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021.
The production transferred to the West End for a limited run at the Criterion Theatre, with its first performance on the 20th May 2021. The majority of the original London cast reprised their respective roles, including Brisson and Jared as Amélie and Nino respectively.
Finland (2019) The musical will have its premiere in Finland in Turku City Theatre on 13 September 2019. Director and choreographer of the show is Reija Wäre, musical staging is by Jussi Vahvaselkä. Amelie is played by Marketta Tikkanen, and Nino by Mikael Saari.
Australia (2020) The musical was scheduled to have its Australian premiere at Darlinghurst Theatre in Sydney, New South Wales. It was originally to preview from the 2nd of July and open on the 10th. The production was postponed due to the Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performing arts and, to date, has not been revived. The director of the show was originally slated to be Shaun Rennie. This production was to have the same actor-musician casting approach as the 2019 UK production.
The Netherlands (2021–2022) It was announced that a Dutch-language version of the musical will be performed as a national tour in the Netherlands in 2021 and 2022. This version of the musical will be produced by Morssinkhof Terra Theatrical and feature Dutch actress Christanne de Bruijn as Amélie.
New Zealand (2025) In 2025 the Austrilasian premiere of Amelie premiered at the Hannah Playhouse in November. It was put on by WITCH Music Theatre. The cast featured Rachel McSweeney as Amelie Poulain, Henry Ashby as Nino Quincampoix and Craig Beadsworth as Raphael Poulain.https://www.witchmusictheatre.co.nz/amelie-the-musical
Italy (2026–2027) An Italian-language production of Amélie was announced for the 2026–2027 theatrical season, starring Giulia Ottonello as Amélie Poulain. The production is directed and choreographed by Eugenio Contenti, with musical direction by Fabio Serri and an Italian translation of the book and lyrics by Alessio Fusi.
The production features scenic design by Gabriele Moreschi, costumes by Rosanna Monti, lighting design by Emanuele Agliati and sound design by Jacopo Pesci. It is produced by Ad Astra Entertainment in collaboration with Compagnia delle Formiche and Fabrizio di Fiore Entertainment & FDF GAT, under license from Concord Theatricals.
The production, performed entirely in Italian, is scheduled to tour Italy during the 2026–2027 season. Its Milan engagement is scheduled at the Teatro Nazionale from 29 to 31 January 2027.
Plot NOTE: The Broadway synopsis is based on its first preview. Changes to the plot were implemented in 2019 with the development of the UK production; the revisions are now what is licensed via Concord Theatricals and are therefore described here.
Broadway production (2017) The musical opens with an introduction of young Amélie and her family ("Times Are Hard For Dreamers (Prologue)"). Young Amélie is born to germaphobe father, Raphael, and to neurotic mother, Amandine, and she feels isolated and emotionally distant from her parents. She takes solace in her telescope, which she uses to view the universe from afar. Her only contact with her parents comes in the form of a monthly health check-up from her father. One day, Amélie gets so excited to see him that her heart races and Raphael misdiagnoses her with a heart condition ("World's Best Dad").
Her parents, paranoid, begin to homeschool Amélie and cut off all of her contact with the outside world. In a lesson with Amandine one day, Amélie imagines her goldfish, Fluffy, coming alive and speaking to her ("World's Best Friend"). When Amélie allows Fluffy to jump into her drinking glass, her parents panic and force Amélie to release Fluffy into the Seine, leaving her alone. Feeling bad, Amandine takes Amélie to Notre Dame to make up for what happened, and Amandine prays for guidance on how to deal with Amélie and hopes for a son ("World's Best Mom"). When they leave the cathedral, Amandine is crushed and killed by a suicidal tourist who leapt from the top of it. The death hits Raphael hard, and he builds a shrine in their home to Amandine, complete with a garden gnome.
Years pass, and Amélie becomes bored with her quiet life and distant father, and she decides to leave home. Five years later, she is a waitress at a café in Montmartre ("Times Are Hard for Dreamers"). She has a quiet, happy life, and spends her time with her three co-workers: Suzanne, the café's owner and a past circus performer, Georgette, a hypochondriac, and Gina. Some of Amélie's regular customers include Gina's ex-boyfriend Joseph, Hipolito, a poet, and Philomene, an air hostess. ("The Commute")
On the night of Princess Diana's death, Amélie discovers a box of childhood treasures belonging to the man who used to own her apartment ("The Bottle Drops"). She is determined to find the owner and anonymously deliver the box to him, and if the owner is touched by her gesture, she resolves that she will become an anonymous do-gooder. She first meets with a cranky grocer, Colignon, who constantly abuses his assistant, Lucien, a mentally-ill young man that has an obsession with fruit ("Three Figs"). Colignon tells Amélie to confer with his mother on the other side of town.
At the train station, Amélie spots a man her age, Nino, who she is attracted to. However, the train arrives before she can introduce herself to him. At Colignon's mother's home, Amélie learns the surname of the box's owner: Bredoteau. When Amélie returns home Nino spots her on the street, noticing how pretty she is and finds himself intrigued with the box.
Time passes, and Amélie's search for Bredoteau isn't working out. One day, she speaks to her neighbor, Julien Dufayel—an artist who suffers from a brittle bone disease, giving him the nickname 'The Glass Man'—and, possibly recognizing the box, tells her that Bredoteau is the incorrect name. The man was really called Bretodeau. Dufayel then shows Amélie his recreation of the painting The Luncheon of the Boating Party, remarking on Amélie's isolation ("The Girl with the Glass").
Amélie discovers Bretodeau in the phonebook and calls him from a payphone, telling him where he can pick up the box ("How To Tell Time"). When Bretodeau finds it, he reflects on his childhood and decides to call his ex-wife and arrange to meet their son. Taking it as a sign, Amélie continues her good-doing, taking a blind beggar on a tour of the streets of Paris, describing his surroundings in detail. ("Tour de France").