Days of Wine and Roses (musical)

Days of Wine and Roses
The Musical
Broadway Promotional Poster
Music	Adam Guettel
Lyrics	Adam Guettel
Book	Craig Lucas
Basis	Days of Wine and Roses screenplay by JP Miller Days of Wine and Roses teleplay by JP Miller
Premiere	May 5, 2023: Linda Gross Theater
Productions	2023 Off-Broadway 2024 Broadway

Days of Wine and Roses is a 2023 stage musical with music and lyrics by Adam Guettel and a book by Craig Lucas, adapted from the 1962 film and 1958 teleplay of the same name.

The musical premiered Off-Broadway in May 2023 to highly positive reviews, starring Kelli O'Hara and Brian d'Arcy James, with direction by Michael Greif. A Broadway transfer opened in January 2024 with O'Hara, James, and Greif returning.^[1]

The plot follows Kirsten Arnesen and Joe Clay, a young couple who marry after he introduces her to social drinking. As years pass, their habit grows, and alcoholism plunges them into trouble and turmoil. Joe eventually gets sober and tries to help Kirsten from her self-destruction.^[2]

Kelli O'Hara previously worked with Adam Guettel on The Light in the Piazza, during which time they began conceiving a stage musical version of JP Miller's Days of Wine and Roses. The original television and film versions were critically acclaimed at their release for their realistic portrayal of alcohol abuse. Miller had adapted his screenplay previously as a straight play which had been available for licensing for many years.^[3] During the COVID-19 pandemic, work on the musical was finished after being developed for over a decade.^[4]

The title comes from a poem by the English writer Ernest Dowson (1867–1900):^[5]

They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream.

The show debuted in New York at Atlantic Theater Company's Linda Gross Theater. in 2023, with previews beginning on May 5 and a premiere on June 5. It ran for a limited engagement through July 16.^[6] It is directed by Michael Greif with choreography by Sergio Trujillo and Karla Puno Garcia. The production also features scenic design by Lizzie Clachan, costumes by Dede Ayite, lighting by Ben Stanton, sound by Kai Harada, hair & make-up design by David Brian Brown and orchestrations by Guettel and Jamie Lawrence.^[7]

On July 25, it was announced that the production had made a cast recording.^[8] The cast recording was released digitally on December 15.

The musical's transfer to Broadway was announced on September 13, 2023. The production began previews on January 6, 2024, with an official opening on January 28. The show was scheduled for a sixteen-week limited run at Studio 54. O'Hara, and James reprised their roles in the Broadway production, as well as the entire original production team.^[9] Olivia Hernandez, Byron Jennings, Bill English, David Jennings, and Sharon Catherine Brown reprised their respective roles from Off-Broadway with Tony Carlin and Tabitha Lawing joining the company for the transfer.^[10]

Due to low ticket sales and attendance, the production closed 4 weeks early on March 31, 2024.^[11]

Source:^[12]

• "Magic Time" – Joe
• "The Story of the Atlantic Cable" – Kirsten
• "There Go I" – Kirsten
• "Evanesce" – Joe, Kirsten
• "Sammen I himmelen" – Kirsten
• "As the Water Loves the Stone" – Joe, Kirsten
• "Are You Blue" – Kirsten
• "Underdeath" – Kirsten
• "First Breath" – Kirsten, Lila
• "Evanesce (Reprise)" – Joe, Kirsten
• "435" – Joe
• "Morton Salt Girl" – Kirsten
• "Forgiveness" – Joe
• "As the Water Loves the Stone (Reprise)" – Kirsten, Joe
• "Letters" – Kirsten, Lila
• "Forgiveness (Reprise)" – Kirsten
• "Sammen I himmelen (Reprise)" – Joe, Lila
• "There Go I (Reprise)" – Joe, Kirsten

• Off-Broadway (2023)
  • Kirsten Arnesen: Elena Shaddow
• Broadway (2024)
  • Joe Clay: Bill English (u/s)

• Official website
• ​Days of Wine and Roses​ at the Internet Broadway Database
• ​Days of Wine and Roses​ at the Internet Off-Broadway Database