Jordan Fisher Returns to Broadway as Christian in Moulin Rouge
- Sidney Marie
- Apr 21
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 23
The Prince of Broadway is back and better than ever! Here's everything you need to know before watching Jordan Fisher in Moulin Rouge.
Long-winded reviews? Not our style. We’re serving this up in three quick courses: the essentials, the experience breakdown, and tips to level up your next Broadway date night!
Curtain Up: All the Essential Details
Full Title: Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Theater: Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W. 45th St., New York, map
Main Cast: Jordan Fisher and Solea Pfeiffer
Running Time: 2 hours and 35 minutes, including one intermission
Lyrics and Music: A jukebox musical featuring hits from artists like Elton John, Lady Gaga, Sia, and more
Tickets: See Availability Here
Plot: Inspired by Baz Luhrmann’s iconic film, Moulin Rouge! tells the story of Christian, a young writer who falls for Satine, the star performer of the famed Parisian cabaret. Set to a high-energy mashup of modern pop hits, this dazzling jukebox musical spins a tale of passion, sacrifice, and the intoxicating allure of love in a world where the bohemian ideals of truth, beauty, freedom, and love reign supreme.
Polished to Perfection: Jordan Fisher and the Moulin Rouge! Cast Shine Bright
Disclaimer: This wasn’t my first trip to Moulin Rouge!, I had the honor to see it during JoJo’s run, so I fully expected to be extra picky about Satine this time around. But as luck would have it, Solea Pfeiffer was out and her understudy, Hailee Kaleem Wright, stepped into the spotlight. As a former theater minor, I have a soft spot for understudies, so no harsh Satine critiques here. And as for Christian? This actually marked my third time seeing Jordan Fisher on a Broadway stage (shoutout to Dear Evan Hansen and Hadestown), so let’s just say he didn’t have to win me over... though whether he fully delivered? Well, more on that in a minute.
The plot, for someone like me who has never seen the film, had me hooked from the start. It’s got all the makings of a classic: a tragic love story, a play within a play, and the age-old clash of the proletariat versus the bourgeoisie. You really can’t go wrong with that formula. The opening sequence absolutely delivers. But I did notice some hiccups early on with “the four whores” (that’s what Google told me to call them). There originally were some mic issues and later it seemed someone was slightly out of sync, so some of their moments felt a little off-kilter. I’ll give them some grace though, because it is a tall task to live up to the iconic LaBelle and the Christina, Lil' Kim, Mya, and P!nk’s cover of Lady Marmalade. Speaking of voices, I’m convinced my Harold had a cold that night, and that’s all I’ll say on that.
The lead-up to Satine’s entrance is perfectly staged, and the whole moment really depends on the actress nailing that first impression. Hailee Kaleem held her own. Her rendition of Diamonds (yes, the Rihanna one) really ties the whole scene together. It felt both modern and cinematic, which is kind of the magic of this show. The mashups and song selection overall hit the right notes for me, though I do have a few personal gripes. So Fresh, So Clean just doesn’t translate for me in a Broadway context. Even though I get why it’s there, for me, it misses. For some songs like Chandelier, the starting verses felt a little awkward because the bridge and chorus are really what match the vibe of the show. But honestly, those are easy things to overlook.
Even though the next half of this review is going to focus on the show’s newest addition, Jordan Fisher, I’ll say this: Even if it’s his understudy performing, the show is absolutely still worth watching. Moulin Rouge! is nonstop entertainment from start to finish. There’s a reason this show is still packing houses five years later. It’s pure magic from the moment you step into the theater to curtain call.
The first time I saw Jordan Fisher on Broadway was when he stepped into the role of Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen. His singing was as strong as expected, but I wasn’t completely sold on his portrayal. Physically, I felt like he was doing a little too much, which made the performance feel slightly overworked for me. The second time I saw him was as Orpheus in Hadestown — and fair warning, this is probably an unpopular opinion — but the show as a whole just didn’t hit for me, especially the music. Even though I liked Jordan’s acting more in that role and his voice was still top-tier, the entire production fell a little flat in my book.
So when I walked into Moulin Rouge! already familiar with the show, and not particularly impressed by the Christian I’d seen the first time around (nope, it wasn’t Aaron Tveit), I had high expectations for Jordan. And honestly, he delivered. He fit the role of Christian like a glove. His performance was strong from start to finish, but the real standout moment for me was his rendition of Roxanne. That song is one of my all-time favorites, so my bar for any cover is sky-high, and Jordan didn’t just meet the bar, he reset it.
I would’ve loved to see his chemistry with Solea (my Eurydice back in Hadestown was Isa Briones), but even so, he and Hailee shared a connection that felt authentic and beautifully played.
Like I said earlier, Moulin Rouge! is an absolute blast even without him in the cast, but Jordan is one of those rare actors who makes it worth going just to watch him own the stage. Instead of slapping a number on this, I’ll stick to the one measure that really matters: would I see this show again? And as someone who’s already gone twice, the answer is.. YES, 100%.
Paint the Town Rouge: How to turn Moulin Rouge! into a Date Night
Set the mood before you even step inside the theater by planning a date night that channels the show’s Parisian backdrop. Start with dinner at Cafe Un Deux Trois. I personally am a fan of their French toast, which doesn’t help this dinner conversation, so let me point you toward their Pre-Fixe Theater Menu instead, which is perfect for a night like this.
And if you’re not quite ready to let the Moulin Rouge! magic fade after the final bow, keep the vibe alive with a stop at Birdland. It’s a cozy jazz club just a short walk from the theater, and if you needed another reason to go, even JoJo gave it her stamp of approval.
We love hearing all about your Broadway experience, so if you decide to make your life that much better by watching Moulin Rouge!, snap a pic and tag @popupgirlsnyc. We’ll be waiting to swoon right along with you!
