‘Escape to Margaritaville’ the musical is playing now at the La Jolla Playhouse in Southern California and the San Diego Union Tribune has a very detailed review of the production, plus an interview with Jimmy Buffett: “‘Escape to Margaritaville’ goes down easy at La Jolla Playhouse”

So it’s good to be able to report that the Margaritaville brought to life in La Jolla Playhouse’s world-premiere Buffett musical is a place you’ll likely be pickled — er, tickled to spend some time.

The show, born and bred (or poured and blended) at the Playhouse and now setting its sights on Broadway, strings together nearly two dozen Buffett favorites plus a couple of new songs, and sets them to a love story that blooms in a touristy tropical backwater.

You will not be surprised to learn there’s a good-time, party vibe to it all. No one expected this show to be “Les Miz” in flip-flops (much less Chekhov by the beach), but it’s still worth noting how “Escape to Margaritaville” delivers just about every bit of what the phrase “Jimmy Buffett musical” promises, from the splashy colors to the steel-drum beats to the palm-fronded beach bar slinging fruity cocktails.

Read the full review and watch the interview with Buffett here.

San Diego’s La Jolla Playhouse gets the world debut of Jimmy Buffett’s new musical Escape to Margaritaville and they’ve just announced the full casting and ticket information:

Tickets go on sale to the public on Sunday, March 26 at noon and will be available online at LaJollaPlayhouse.org, by phone at (858) 550-1010, or in person at The Playhouse’s Patron Services Office (hours: Tue – Sun, noon to 6pm) at 2910 La Jolla Village Drive.

Joining the previously-announced principals – Paul Alexander Nolan as Tully, Alison Luff as Rachel and Lisa Howard as Tammy – the complete cast features Charlie Pollock as Brick, Don Sparks as J.D., Andre Ward as Jamal and Rema Webb as Marley, along with ensemble members Matt Allen, Sara Andreas, Katie Banville, Hanz Enyeart, Marjorie Failoni, Samantha Farrow, Keely Hutton, Justin Keats, Mike Millan, Justin Mortelliti, Ian Paget, Sharone Sayegh, Alex Michael Stoll and Jena VanElslander. The ensemble also includes three UC San Diego M.F.A. students: Andrew Gallop, Volen Iliev and Mo Rodvanich.

As previously announced, Escape to Margaritaville will have its world premiere at The Playhouse on May 9, 2017, and will play New Orleans’ Saenger Theatre, Houston’s Hobby Center, and make its last stop before Broadway at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre in November 2017. Escape to Margaritaville will sail into Broadway in the spring of 2018. Go to www.EscapeToMargaritavilleMusical.com for more information.

Read the full article at BroadwayWorld.com.

Jimmy Buffett’s upcoming musical “Escape to Margaritaville” will make additional stops this year on its way to Broadway in 2018.

The show will have its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, CA, in May 2017.

The current engagements are as follows:

May 9–June 25, world premiere
La Jolla Playhouse
Mandell Weiss Theatre
2910 La Jolla Village Drive
La Jolla, CA

October 20–28, pre-Broadway tour premiere
East Jefferson General Hospital Broadway in New Orleans
Saenger Theatre
1111 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA

October 31–November 5
BBVA Compass Broadway at the Hobby Center
800 Bagby Street
Houston, TX

November 9–December 3
Broadway In Chicago
Oriental Theatre
24 West Randolph
Chicago, IL

“It’s always been a dream of mine to make it to Broadway!” said Buffett in a statement. “After our world premiere this May in La Jolla, we’ll set sail from California on a pre-Broadway national tour stopping first in the city that gave me my start-New Orleans, then to some of my other favorites—Houston and Chicago—before arriving at that port of all ports, Broadway and New York City.”

As previously reported, Christopher Ashley, the Tony-nominated director behind Memphis and The Rocky Horror Show, will direct the new musical, which features an original story by co-book writers Greg Garcia (My Name is Earl) and Mike O’Malley (Survivor’s Remorse, Shameless).

Read more at Playbill.

After debuting in San Diego, “Escape to Margaritaville” will head to Chicago in the Fall.

The Jimmy Buffett musical is bringing Margaritaville to Chicago. The Broadway-aimed Escape to Margaritaville will play the Windy City’s Oriental Theatre next fall, with performances beginning on November 9. As previously announced, the Parrothead-infested musical is set to make its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in California in May.

The new show will feature Buffett’s classic hits about cheeseburgers, paradise, et cetera, as well as new, original songs from the singer/songwriter. The story, crafted by book writers Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley, follows a part-time bartender and singer at a tropical island resort who questions his relaxed ways when he encounters (and falls in love with) a career-minded tourist.

More details were unveiled on Monday for the upcoming Jimmy Buffett musical, now titled “Escape to Margaritaville.”

A world premiere in California is set for Jimmy Buffett’s musical, which has just brought aboard some accomplished Broadway veterans.

“The musical, now titled ‘Escape to Margaritaville,’ will feature choreography by Kelly Devine (‘Rocky’), scenic design by Walt Spangler (‘Tuck Everlasting’), costumes by Paul Tazewell (‘Hamilton’), lighting by Howell Binkley (‘Hamilton’) and sound design by Brian Ronan (‘If/Then’),” the AP reports. “The show, combining Buffett’s tunes with an original story by writers Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley, will start grooving onstage in May 2017 at La Jolla Playhouse. Playhouse artistic director Christopher Ashley will direct.”

According to Hollywood Reporter, the musical will begin previews on May 16, 2017, ahead of its opening night on May 28, and will play through June 25 at La Jolla in San Diego.