In a vibrant, sun-drenched room at London’s Pineapple Dance Studios, the energy is infectious as three young actors rehearse a high-energy choreography with a lively troupe. Laughter fills the air, creating a palpable sense of camaraderie. This bustling atmosphere is a fitting prelude to the upcoming West End premiere of ‘Why Am I So Single?’, a new musical that promises to capture the messy, hilarious, and ultimately hopeful realities of single life in the city.
Opening at the Garrick Theatre this month, ‘Why Am I So Single?’ takes a refreshingly honest approach to love and relationships, departing from the traditional grand narratives of happily-ever-afters that dominate many musicals. “Most musicals are about people falling in love and living happily ever after,” says Leesa Tulley, the 26-year-old Glaswegian actor who plays Nancy, one of the leads. “You’re watching them [as a single person] thinking, ‘Have I got something wrong with me?’”
Nancy, alongside her complex best friend Oliver, played by 25-year-old Jo Foster (known for her roles in ‘& Juliet’ and the Regent’s Park production of ‘Legally Blonde’), embarks on a journey to understand their own ‘endless search for a romantic soulmate’, ultimately discovering the strength and beauty of their platonic bond.
Joining them is Noah Thomas, 25, who brings to life Artie, the honest and relatable friend everyone needs. Thomas, recognizable from the stage version of ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ and Netflix’s ‘Everything Now’, praises the depth and complexity of the perspectives explored in the show. “I think sometimes people get confused with representation and think it means we need to be a shining emblem of light,” he says, “but that’s not real life.”
The musical is the brainchild of writer-director Lucy Moss and writer Toby Marlow, the creative duo behind the megahit ‘Six’, a feminist pop reimagining of the lives of Henry VIII’s wives. Moss, at 26, became the youngest director in Broadway history when ‘Six’ transferred there in 2020. The show garnered five Olivier Award nominations and won two Tony Awards in 2022. For their latest venture, Moss and Marlow have promised a unique blend of “weird Edinburgh Fringe show” vibes with old Hollywood dance numbers, seamlessly weaving together references to Marilyn Monroe and Jason Derulo. Their collaboration, born out of a shared journey through their early twenties, took root during a writers’ retreat following the whirlwind success of ‘Six’. They felt pressure to create something groundbreaking, but their conversations inevitably drifted towards the everyday realities of their own lives. “We started catching up about dates and then were like, ‘Oh, maybe this is what we actually care about,’” says Moss.
Their research, which involved more than a few cringe-worthy dating app stories, unearthed the universal experience of navigating modern romance. The challenge, as Thomas aptly points out, was “how do we make someone ordering Deliveroo a big musical number?” It’s in this ability to find humor and drama in the mundane that the brilliance of ‘Why Am I So Single?’ shines. The show celebrates the reality of being uncoupled, of grappling with the complexities of dating, and ultimately, of finding joy and strength in the journey. “Because that’s how it all feels,” says Thomas, speaking to the relatable nature of the show.
For those who have ever poured their hearts out to a therapist about their dating misadventures, ‘Why Am I So Single?’ promises to be a relatable and deeply entertaining experience. It’s a show that celebrates the highs and lows of modern dating, reminding us that even in the midst of dating app fatigue and endless first dates, there is beauty and humor to be found in the journey of self-discovery. And according to Thomas, it will be “a spectacle in every sense,” a show that will stay with audiences long after the final curtain falls.
‘Why Am I So Single?’ is set to run at the Garrick Theatre in London from August 27th, 2023 to February 13th, 2025.
