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Times may have changed since the days of Shakespeare, however stories and madness haven't. 'Farinelli and the King' is a brand new musical on Broadway that tells the story of King Philippe V of Spain and his return to sanity following a brief spell of madness. The production in its course also pays homage to theatre from the times of Shakespeare - traditional baroque instruments being performed live in a gallery above the stage while the actors tell their tales by candlelight
The Story
King Philippe V, who also goes by the name Rylance, is a Spanish emperor who is on the brink of madness. His descent into insanity has enveloped the kingdom, becoming a bane for every one. However, things begin to see hopeful when the king hears the voice of the world-renowned castrato, Farinelli. Listening to his music has a profound effect on King Philippe as it seems to push him towards sanity. Life changes around for both Farinelli and the king, with their relationship at an all time high. However, Farinelli has a tough choice to make - should he return to his fans outside the castle walls, or forever remain a subject and perform only for the King?
Performance
Farinelli and the King previewed on Dec 5 2017 at the Belasco Theatre to positive reviews. It has sold 37,820 tickets since its premiere - 97% of total seating capacity - grossing a total of $3,981,581 up until the first week of Jan 2018.
Reviews
"A fascinating study…Van Kampen’s script is sometimes a bit knowing, but it interweaves story and song excellently…The role of Philippe gives Rylance the chance to display the king’s whimsical strangeness, sudden mood changes, and inner shrewdness…”
– The Guardian
"A profoundly funny and haunting meditation on melancholy and the therapeutic powers of music…”
– Circwi
Show Score: 80
About the Show
Show Details
Show Timings
Tues: 7 PM
Wed & Sat: 2 PM & 8 PM
Thu & Fri: 8 PM
Sun: 3 PM (Changes to 7 PM after Mar 19)
Duration
2 hours, 10 minutes including one intermission
Leading Roles
Sam Crane as Farinelli
Huss Garbiya as Dr. Jose Cervi
Melody Grove as Isabella Farnese
Directed by
John Dove
Written by
Claire Van Kampen
Know Before You Go
Audience
Suitable for ages 8 and up. Children under 4 will not be admitted.
Available Facilities
In-house lounge
Coat check
Wheelchair accessible
Seating
The Belasco theatre has a seating capacity of 1016.
Outside Food
Strictly prohibited. If you'd like to grab a meal before or after the show, check out our guide to the 30 Best Restaurants in the Theater District.
Dress Code
Smart and casual wear is recommended. Keep in mind, the theater is air conditioned throughout the year and can get a bit chilly.
Gallery
About Belasco Theatre
The Belasco Theatre has seen some prominent productions like Hedwig and the Angry Inch, A Doll’s House, and The Glass Menagerie, among others. With a seating capacity of 1016, spread across the orchestra, mezzanine, and standing row, the Belasco is a relatively smaller theater.
Find the seating chart here.
For those looking to book discounted Farinelli and the King tickets online, platforms like TodayTix and Headout are your best bet, as they source tickets directly from the box office and scour the internet for any discount codes available for these shows. Any price advantages are then passed on ensuring that you are paying the lowest prices.
The Headout advantage:
- One of the few platforms that gives you the ability to select specific seats.
- Gives you the ability to skip the box office lines and directly pick up tickets from our Headout hosts stationed right outside the theatre.
- Last-minute tickets: If you made a spontaneous plan, we generally have decent last minute inventory for most Broadway shows.
- 24/7 customer service to back you in case something goes wrong.
Have a look at the real-time seat availability and prices of different sections for Farinelli and the King. In the interactive seat-map below, select the date that you would like to watch the show and check out the seats available for that day. You can filter the seats as per your desired price range and purchase tickets directly.
