Britney Spears, the iconic pop star, recently expressed her support for the jukebox Broadway musical “Once Upon a One More Time” based on her music catalog. In a post shared on her Instagram, she sent well-wishes to the cast and crew ahead of the show’s opening night at the Marquis Theatre. Spears praised the show, describing it as funny, smart, and brilliant.
The musical comedy, produced by Tony winners James L. Nederlander and Hunter Arnold, officially opened on Thursday night after previews that began on May 13. Written by Jon Hartmere and directed-choreographed by Keone and Mari Madrid, the show features music performed and recorded by Spears.
Some of Spears’ hit songs like “Oops I Did It Again,” “Lucky,” “Circus,” and “Toxic” serve as the soundtrack for the show, which revolves around a fairy-tale book club featuring classic characters like Cinderella, Snow White, the Little Mermaid, and Rapunzel. In the story, their lives are upended by a rogue fairy godmother who drops “The Feminine Mystique” into their laps.
“Once Upon a One More Time” had a pre-Broadway run in Chicago in 2019, but it was pushed to 2020 due to the pandemic. However, it finally had its world premiere in December 2021 at Washington, D.C.’s Shakespeare Theatre Company, months before Spears’ conservatorship officially ended. Nederlander and Arnold confirmed that the musical is fully authorized and licensed by Britney Spears, and the license agreement was negotiated and signed post-conservatorship in 2022.
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The creative team behind the production expressed their gratitude to the cast, crew, and Spears for their support in bringing the show to life. Co-director and choreographer Keone emphasized that the cast and crew fully embody what Britney stands for, including joy, happiness, and kindness. Director-choreographer Mari Madrid shared her excitement about being able to witness live audience interactions and the refreshing feeling of experiencing joy after the challenging years humanity has faced.
Writer Jon Hartmere reflected on the journey of the musical, which has gone through various changes over the past few years. He expressed gratitude for the time that allowed him to shape and reshape the story alongside the director-choreographer team. Hartmere mentioned that if they had done the very first version of the show, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to work with Keone and Mari, who he described as delightful and amazing.
Producer Hunter Arnold highlighted the importance of Spears’ approval in making the production possible. He emphasized that everyone involved believed the show needed to pay homage to the iconography of her career and directly benefit her.
The support and endorsement from Britney Spears add a significant boost to the already highly anticipated musical. Fans and theatergoers are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to watch “Once Upon a One More Time” and witness the fusion of Spears’ iconic music with a fresh and entertaining story. With its successful premiere and the star’s backing, the musical is set to captivate audiences on Broadway.
