TWYLA THARP AND BILLY JOEL’S BOLDLY REIMAGINED BROADWAY HIT MOVIN’ OUT
TWYLA THARP AND BILLY JOEL’S
BOLDLY REIMAGINED BROADWAY HIT
MOVIN’ OUT PREMIERES AT ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY
BILLY JOEL
CONCEIVED, DIRECTED, AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY
TWYLA THARP
(Sarasota, FL) – Asolo Repertory Theatre, is pleased to announce the reimagining of the groundbreaking Broadway hit MOVIN’ OUT, with acclaimed Tony Award-winning choreographer and director Twyla Tharp at the helm. This new version of the production is a bold new take on the critically acclaimed musical with songs from Billy Joel, the legendary musician whose songs have shaped a generation.
MOVIN’ OUT will kick off Asolo Rep’s 2025-26 season and introduce fresh artistic elements while preserving the heart-pounding energy, stunning choreography, and timeless music that made MOVIN’ OUT a cultural phenomenon.
Premiering on Broadway in 2002, MOVIN’ OUT garnered critical acclaim for its innovative blend of rock music and theatrical storytelling. The show was widely praised for its dynamic choreography by Twyla Tharp, which seamlessly integrated Billy Joel's hits into a narrative about love, loss, and the American experience. The production earned two 2003 Tony Awards, including one for Twyla Tharp (Best Choreography) and one for Billy Joel and Stuart Malina (Best Orchestrations), along with 10 Tony nominations including Best Musical. Its success was a testament to its groundbreaking fusion of music, dance, and theater, marking it as a standout production of the early 2000s.
Originally conceived by Twyla Tharp, whose unparalleled contributions to dance have earned her acclaim worldwide, Tharp will once again bring this revival of MOVIN’ OUT into a new era, reimagining how the characters interact with the music.
"Reimagining a story, like revisiting a timeless piece of music, is an opportunity to see it anew—not just through a fresh lens, but through the evolving lens of who we are today,” said Twyla Tharp. “It's about exploring the past with the wisdom of experience and letting the talent of the present shape the narrative for a new generation. In a space like Asolo Repertory Theatre, we can nurture that process and connect deeply with a community that shares our passion for transformation and storytelling."
Asolo Repertory Theatre a nationally recognized leader in regional theater, is proud to spearhead a new version of the production in collaboration with Nederlander Presentations Inc., producer of the original Broadway production.
“MOVIN’ OUT is a marriage of two of those most important artists of the past half century;” said Peter Rothstein, Producing Artistic Director. “Twyla’s extraordinary vision and Billy Joel’s iconic music, will create an exhilarating, profound theatrical experience for both longtime fans and a new generation of theatergoers.”
MOVIN’ OUT will begin performances in Sarasota on November 13, 2025. Subscriptions to Asolo Repertory Theatre’s 2025-26 season will go on sale following the announcement of the entire season on March 10, 2025. Single tickets will go on sale in September.
For updates and more information, visit asolorep.org.
About Twyla Tharp
Since graduating from Barnard College in 1963, Ms. Tharp has choreographed more than one hundred sixty works: one hundred twenty-nine dances, twelve television specials, six Hollywood movies, four full-length ballets, four Broadway shows and two figure skating routines. She received one Tony Award, two Emmy Awards, nineteen honorary doctorates, the Vietnam Veterans of America President's Award, the 2004 National Medal of the Arts, the 2008 Jerome Robbins Prize, and a 2008 Kennedy Center Honor. Her many grants include the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship. She is a member of
the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
In 1965, Ms. Tharp founded her dance company, Twyla Tharp Dance. Her dances are known for creativity, wit and technical precision coupled with a streetwise nonchalance. By combining different forms of movement –such as jazz, ballet, boxing and inventions of her own making– Ms. Tharp’s work expands the boundaries of ballet and modern dance. In addition to choreographing for her own company, she has created dances for The Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, The Boston Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Martha Graham Dance Company, Miami City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Today, ballet and dance companies around the world continue to perform Ms. Tharp’s works.
In 1992, Ms. Tharp published her autobiography PUSH COMES TO SHOVE. She went on to write The Creative Habit: Learn it and Use it for Life, followed by The Collaborative Habit: Life Lessons for Working Together. In 2019, her fourth book was published, KEEP IT MOVING: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life. Today, Ms. Tharp continues to create.
About Billy Joel
New York’s iconic native is considered one of the most beloved recording artists and esteemed entertainers in history. The singer/songwriter/composer is the sixth bestselling recording artist and the fourth-bestselling solo artist with more than 160 million records sold worldwide. His 1985 compilation album, “Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2,” is one of the bestselling albums in the United States.
Joel’s songs have acted as personal and cultural touchstones for millions of people across five decades. Joel’s string of 33 Top 40 hits, all of which Joel has written himself, began with 1973’s autobiographical “Piano Man,” written while Joel was playing in a Los Angeles lounge. In 2016, the Library of Congress selected “Piano Man” for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its “cultural, historic and artistic significance.” The hits have continued for almost five decades, with three of Joel’s Top 40 songs – “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me,” “Tell Her About It” and “We Didn’t Start The Fire” – peaking at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts and 23 Grammy nominations awarded to Joel since he signed his first recording contract in 1972.
Joel is one of the most engaging and bestselling live performers of our time, with songs like “Uptown Girl,” “Just The Way You Are,” “The Longest Time” and “Vienna” – amongst countless others. In January 2014, Joel began Madison Square Garden’s first-ever music franchise performing one show at The Garden each month – Billboard Magazine called it “The Greatest Arena Run in History.” More than 50 years after his The Garden debut, after 10 years of sold-out shows, his final concert marked Joel’s 150th lifetime performance at the venue this past July.
The long list of accolades awarded to Joel across his career is a testament to the reverence given to him by fans, critics, and fellow musicians alike. Joel was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by his idol Ray Charles in 1999 – Joel has received the RIAA’s Diamond Award twice for Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II and The Stranger, presented for albums that have sold more than 10 million copies. He is the recipient of six GRAMMY Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Legend Award. Joel has been inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame including the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award. Barack and Michelle Obama inducted him at the 36th Annual Kennedy Center Honor and he received a TONY AWARD for "Movin' Out," a Broadway musical based on Joel’s music.
As a humanitarian, The Joel Foundation has made and pledged more than $7 million in charitable donations with a focus on music education and humanitarian aid. In addition to supporting vital global relief efforts, The Joel Foundation provides grants to organizations throughout New York City and Long Island leveraging the power of music to enhance the lives of people of every age. Recently, The Joel Foundation announced the continuation of its long-term investment in Long Island’s only public arts high school, Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA), serving student artists in a pre-conservatory model with a focus on career and technical education.
About Asolo Repertory Theatre
Now in its 66th season, Asolo Repertory Theatre is recognized as one of the premier professional theatres in America and one of the largest in the Southeastern United States. Asolo Rep produces a wide range of work each season, including classics, contemporary drama, large-scale musicals, and world premieres. A theatre district in and of itself, Asolo Rep is committed to expanding its reach into the community, furthering its collaboration with the best theatre-makers working in the industry today, and cultivating the next generation of artists through its affiliation with the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Under the new leadership of Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein and Managing Director Ross Egan, Asolo Rep’s ambitious theatrical offerings, commitment to new work, and ground-breaking education and engagement programs, ensure the company’s lasting legacy for future generations. Visit www.asolorep.org to learn more.
###