From Theatre Kid to Pop Icon: Britney Spears Music Triumphantly Returns to Broadway in ‘Once Upon a One More Time
Before she catapulted to global stardom, Britney Spears was a young theatre aspirant. At the tender age of 10, prior to joining The Mickey Mouse Club, Spears held the position of understudy in the off-Broadway production of ‘Ruthless!’ in 1992, alongside actress Natalie Portman. Fast forward three decades and numerous chart hits, the pop icon’s catalogue now serves as the backdrop to the Broadway musical ‘Once Upon a One More Time’, which opened its doors at the Marquis Theatre in New York in late June.
Jennifer Simard, who plays the role of the Wicked Stepmother in this fairy tale-themed show, notes, “She really is a Broadway baby.” She expresses a sense of full-circle beauty in Spears’ journey from the stage to pop superstardom and now back to Broadway.
Billed as a ‘giant celebration’ of Britney Spears, ‘Once Upon a One More Time’ intertwines the narratives of six fairy-tale princesses who reclaim control of their stories after reading Betty Friedman’s influential feminist book, The Feminine Mystique. Nearly two dozen of Spears’ most popular songs ingeniously stitch together the fabric of the musical. The hit numbers “Lucky”, “Womanizer”, and “Toxic” form integral plot moments, while Spears’ 2001 MTV VMAs performance is cheekily referenced in a feather boa dance routine set to “Work Bitch”.
Director and choreographer Mari Madrid, who led the project alongside her husband Keone, describes the musical as a “giant celebration of Britney”. The musical features many recognisable nods to Spears, from signature styling to iconic choreography.
The idea of a Britney Spears jukebox musical was initially proposed in 2017, with Spears herself suggesting a collaboration with Broadway producers James Nederlander and Hunter Arnold. “She really wanted something that was using her music that was a fairy tale and not about her life, but a brand-new story,” shares Guarini. Spears has been involved in the project’s development from the early stages, even attending workshops.
‘Once Upon a One More Time’ marks Spears’ first significant venture following the end of her conservatorship in November 2021. The legal arrangement, which granted control over Spears’ life and finances to her father Jamie Spears, had been in place since 2008. After the conclusion of the conservatorship, Spears fully authorised and licensed the musical. The agreement provides her with a revenue stream from the Broadway show and any potential future productions.
Although Spears has not yet attended the Broadway production, she extended her support and endorsement via an Instagram post on the musical’s opening night. The cast was thrilled by Spears’ approval, despite rumours from some skeptical fans questioning the authenticity of Spears’ control over her social media.
Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy
Britney Spears, whose full name is Britney Jean Spears, is an internationally renowned American singer, dancer, and actress. Born on December 2, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi, she gained fame as a child star on the Disney Channel’s “The Mickey Mouse Club” before launching a highly successful career as a pop singer.
Spears released her debut single, “…Baby One More Time,” in 1998, and it quickly became a global hit. Her debut album of the same name followed, and it too achieved massive commercial success. The album’s catchy pop tunes and Spears’s energetic performances, combined with her image as a wholesome, schoolgirl-next-door, helped fuel her rise to stardom.
Over the years, Spears has released numerous albums that have solidified her position as a pop icon, including “Oops!… I Did It Again” (2000), “Britney” (2001), and “Blackout” (2007). Some of her most notable songs include “Toxic,” “Womanizer,” and “Piece of Me.” Spears’s influence on the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s earned her the title “Princess of Pop.”
Apart from her music, Spears is also known for her public struggles with mental health, as well as a highly publicized and controversial conservatorship, which placed control of her personal and financial decisions in the hands of her father. This situation sparked the “Free Britney” movement among her fans, advocating for her freedom from the conservatory. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the conservatorship ended in November 2021.
Throughout her career, Britney Spears has faced significant scrutiny and endured numerous ups and downs. However, her resilience and vast contributions to the music industry have firmly established her legacy as one of the most significant pop artists of her generation.
