Flying Over Sunset

Flying Over Sunset is a musical with music by Tom Kitt, lyrics by Michael Korie, and a book by James Lapine.^[1] The musical is a fictional account of a meeting between Aldous Huxley, Clare Boothe Luce and Cary Grant, who all used the drug LSD.

Flying Over Sunset
Music	Tom Kitt
Lyrics	Michael Korie
Book	James Lapine
Premiere	2015: Martha's Vineyard
Productions	2015 Martha's Vineyard Reading 2016 Edgartown Reading 2021 Broadway

Productions

Readings (2015 and 2016)

The musical had a reading in August 2015 at the Vineyard Arts Project (Martha's Vineyard) with Christine Ebersole playing Luce, and a cast featuring Boyd Gaines, Julia Murney, Tam Mutu and David Turner.^[2][3]

A second reading was held on July 29, 2016 in Edgartown, Massachusetts. Performers who took part in the reading included the late Marin Mazzie, Boyd Gaines, Betsy Wolfe, Tam Mutu and Jennifer Simard.^[4]

Broadway (2021)

The production was originally scheduled to open on April 16, 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[5][6]

The musical premiered on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on November 11, 2021 in previews with the official opening on December 13, 2021.^[7][8]

The cast included Carmen Cusack as Clare Boothe Luce, Harry Hadden-Paton as Aldous Huxley Tony Yazbeck as Cary Grant, and Robert Sella as Gerald Heard. The musical was directed by Lapine with choreography by Michelle Dorrance, sets by Beowulf Boritt, costumes by Toni-Leslie James, lighting by Bradley King, and sound by Dan Moses Schreier.^[7][9]

The production closed on January 16, 2022 after 63 performances (28 previews and 35 performances).^[10]

Plot

Act l

Huxley, Grant, and Luce separately obtained LSD. Each is dealing with a problem: Huxley is grieving his wife's death, Grant his ineptitude with women, and Luce her guilt over the deaths of her mother and daughter.^[11] Huxley takes LSD at the drugstore where he obtained it, and imagines the figures from the painting “Judith With the Head of Holofernes” coming to life around him ("Bella Donna Di Agonia").^[11][12] Grant's first trip is when he meets his younger self and his violent father ("I Have It All"/"Funny Money").^[11][12][13]

The three ultimately meet at the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood.^[11]

Act ll

Huxley, Grant, and Luce gather at Luce's estate in Malibu, where they proceed on LSD trips with Gerald Heard as their guide.^[11]

Cast

Character	Broadway (2021)
Aldous Huxley	Harry Hadden-Paton
Maria Huxley	Laura Shoop
Gerald Heard	Robert Sella
Cary Grant	Tony Yazbeck
Dr. Harris/Father	Nehal Joshi
Archie Leach	Atticus Ware
Clare Boothe Luce	Carmen Cusack
Ann Brokaw/Judith	Kanisha Marie Feliciano
Austin/Handmaiden	Michele Ragusa
Rosalia/Sophia Loren	Emily Pynenburg

Musical numbers

Source: Playbill^[14]

Act I "The Music Plays On" - Company "Bella Donna Di Agonia" - Judith, Handmaiden, Aldous "Wondrous" - Aldous "Bella Donna Di Agonia" (Reprise) - Aldous "I Have It All" - Cary "Funny Money" - Archie, Cary, Father "A Sapphire Dragonfly" - Clare, Ann, Austin "Someone" - Clare "Flying Over Sunset" - Clare, Gerald, Ann, Austin "Flying Over Sunset" (Reprise) - Clare, Aldous, Gerald, Cary, Company

Act II "Om" - Gerald, Clare, Aldous, Cary "Huxley Knows" - Clare, Cary, Aldous "My Mother and I" - Clare, Cary, Gerald, Archie, Father, Ann, Austin "The Music Plays On" (Reprise) - Aldous, Maria "I Like to Lead" - Sophia, Cary "Rocket Ship" - Cary "An Interesting Place" - Austin, Ann, Clare "If Only I'd Known" - Clare, Austin, Ann "How?" - Clare "Three Englishmen" - Cary, Gerald, Aldous "The Melancholy Hour" - Maria, Ann, Austin, Archie, Father, Rosalia "The 23rd Ingredient" - Clare, Cary, Aldous, Gerald "Bella Donna Di Agonia" (2nd Reprise) - Judith, Handmaiden

Reception

The show received mixed to negative reviews from critics, including AmNY,^[15] The New York Times,^[11] Theatrely,^[13] and Timeout.^[16] Generally, critics tended to dislike the book and music, while praising the show's cast, technical effects, set, sound design, and choreography.

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

Year	Award Ceremony	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref.
2022	Tony Awards	Best Actress in a Musical	Carmen Cusack	Nominated	[17][18]
		Best Original Score	Tom Kitt and Michael Korie	Nominated
		Best Scenic Design of a Musical	Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions	Nominated
		Best Lighting Design of a Musical	Bradley King	Nominated
	Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical	Beowulf Boritt	Won	[19][20]
		Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical	Bradley King	Won
		Outstanding Projection Design	59 Productions	Won
	Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Actress in a Musical	Carmen Cusack	Nominated	[21]
		Outstanding Scenic Design	Beowulf Boritt	Nominated
		Outstanding Lighting Design	Bradley King	Nominated
		Outstanding Video/Projection Design	59 Productions and Benjamin Pearcy	Nominated
	Chita Rivera Awards	Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show	Tony Yazbeck	Nominated	[22]

^ Flying Over Sunset tied with MJ the Musical for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical.