WEST SPRINGFIELD — Guy meets Girl.
How many times have you heard that phrase before?
But this time it is for real.
The Guy and The Girl are the only names given for the two people who fall in love in “Once: A New Musical,” the smash-hit Broadway musical opening Thursday, Sept. 4, at The Majestic Theater in West Springfield.
Set on the streets of Dublin, the Guy, an Irish musician who gave up on love and music, meets the Girl, a Czech immigrant, are drawn together by their shared love of music leading to a complicated love story.
Based on the 2007 film of the same name by John Carney, “Once” made its Broadway debut in 2012 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater and ran for 1,167 regular performances before closing in 2015. Music and lyrics are by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová and include the Academy Award-winning “Falling Slowly.” The book for the musical was written by Enda Walsh.
The production received 11 Tony Award nominations in 2012, and won 8, including Best Musical, Best Actor and Best Book. The musical also won the 2012 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical and the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
“We have looked at ‘Once’ for a few years and the time was right to kick off our 2025-2026 season with the play. Audiences are going to love it and with our tie-in to the Irish Cultural Center, we thought it would be perfect to bring the musical to West Springfield,” said Sue Dziura, The Majestic’s associate producing director, in an interview with The Republican.
“What is unique about the production is that the 12 actors also play their own instruments and all the music you will hear at our show comes directly from them on stage,” she added.
Respected English actor and theater director James Warwick, best known for his roles on TV as well as his theater work in London’s West End and New York’s Broadway, is directing “Once.”
It is Warwick’s — who now resides in the Berkshires — fourth time directing at The Majestic, following “A Moon for the Misbegotten” last October.
“It is not a simple, straightforward play to direct. ‘Once’ is extremely complex with many leading roles with 12 musicians who act, sing, move, and play their instruments at the same time, some of whom play several instruments,” Warwick said. “So, tracking their movements and how to strategically place some of these instruments on stage is quite a logistical challenge. Danny (Eaton, the Majestic’s founder and producing director) thought I would enjoy the challenge. And, indeed, he was right.”
The director said that people may call “Once” a musical, but it is much more.
“The play has a substantial storyline with richly drawn characters. You have an Irish street busker in Dublin who lost his girlfriend after 10 years. She up and leaves for New York to make a name for herself, leaving him behind brokenhearted. Everyone in the play seems to have some sort of fracture in the lives,” Warwick said.
It is not Warwick’s first time being involved with a musical. He has appeared in “The Rocky Horror Show” in London’s West End, as well as in regional productions of “Camelot” and “My Fair Lady” in the United States. He has also directed musical productions of “They’re Playing Our Song,” “Damn Yankees,” “Brownstone” and “HMS Pinafore.”
“I haven’t done a musical for many years now. And coming back to one has been such a pleasure. I grew up with music… my grandmother was a violinist… and music has been a part of my life since I was a kid,” Warwick said. “So, I am thankful to Danny (Eaton) at The Majestic for giving me the opportunity to once again return to something I enjoyed in the past.”
New York-based Maggie Hollinbeck is serving as musical director and will perform the part of Baruska, who plays the accordion. She was a cast member in the first national tour of “Once” and has served as musical director for several productions of the musical across the country.
“Maggie has a unique perspective and understanding of the music inside and out, which has really enriched our production alongside James’ direction,” Dziura said.
The play runs through Oct. 19. Showtimes are Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets, ranging in price from $35 to $38, are available online at majestictheater.com.
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