Spotlight on 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' with Samantha Dodemaide

As part of a series showcasing long-running Broadway shows, we speak to a star from the pop musical's original Australian cast now making her Broadway debut.

To star in a 10-time Tony Award-winning show on Broadway is spectacular. But to do it on two continents? That's spectacular-spectacular, to borrow a phrase from the Baz Luhrmann film that inspired Moulin Rouge! The Musical. And it's exactly what Samantha Dodemaide has done.

A veteran of the Australian stage, Dodemaide originated the role of nightclub dancer Nini in the country's first production of the musical in 2021. And as of January 2025, she's making her Broadway debut in the same part. Her global journey is not unlike that of the show itself: Since opening at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in 2019, Moulin Rouge! The Musical has traveled to dozens of cities including London, Melbourne, Tokyo, Oslo, Seoul, and Stockholm.

Of course, that's not surprising given that the original film, which sets the star-crossed romance of a poor writer and a Parisian showgirl to a score of chart-topping pop hits, has become a cult classic since its 2001 release. And with the addition of even more songs, new takes on the film's sumptuous sets and costumes, and plenty of live can-can dancing, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is now a fan favorite in its own right. Dodemaide reflects on its success and shares some behind-the-curtain secrets.

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Why do you think this show has lasted on Broadway?

When the creative team was putting the show together, all the departments got it right [...] the direction, the music, the choreography, the costuming, the lighting, the sets, etc. I think when that happens, magic is created on stage, and therefore a brilliant show is created.

What is the best audience reaction you have seen to the show?

The best audience reaction would have to be when we had a "sing-along" show. I wasn't sure what to expect and if the audience would actually get involved, but they did, and it was incredible. I felt like we were rock stars at an arena concert. It was an amazing moment where the audience and the performers on stage felt united.

What is your favorite moment in the show?

By far my favorite moment every night is at the very end of the show, after the finale and bows, when I look out and see pure joy on the audience's faces. There is no greater feeling!

What is a little-known secret about performing in the show?

In particular at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, there is no space [...] in the wings. The backstage area is very small. So, our backstage crew does some incredible work getting sets on and off, and actually the huge set pieces that you see on stage end up being suspended in the air in the wings when they are not being used.

What do you hope audiences take away from the show?

Toulouse-Lautrec sings this iconic line in our show, and I think it's the point of not only our show, but of life: "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

Get Moulin Rouge! The Musical tickets now.

Photo credit: Pepe Muñoz and Samantha Dodemaide in Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway. (Photo by Matthew Murphy)