Dylan MarcAurele’s Pop Off, Michelangelo! is set to make its highly anticipated debut at Underbelly Boulevard Soho. Following a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024, this high-camp musical comedy promises to captivate London audiences with its unique blend of humour and history.
Directed by Joe McNeice, Pop Off, Michelangelo! takes you on a wild ride through Renaissance Italy, showcasing the artistic rivalry between Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. The show features an original electropop score and over-the-top drama, making it a must-see.
The production runs from 17 May to 22 June, with previews starting on 17 May and the official opening night on 23 May. Book your tickets here.
What can you tell us about the show?
Pop Off, Michelangelo! is Book of Mormon meets Wicked meets an art history lecture that you stopped listening to halfway through. The story follows best friends Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. After realising they’re both gay, they come up with a plan to earn God’s forgiveness the only way they know how: by becoming the greatest religious artists of all time.
The score is pop, and the cast is amazing. It’s fun, it’s chaotic, it’s a bit ridiculous, and it’s got a lot of heart. You’re going to leave humming the songs and laughing about the insanity you just witnessed. It’s a rollercoaster of music, art, and gay Renaissance drama that you didn’t know you needed in your life.
Pop Off, Michelangelo! had a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. How has the show evolved since then?
More jokes. A larger cast. Live musicians. And we don’t have to store the props underneath the audience’s seats! Since Edinburgh, we’ve really expanded the energy and scale of the production.
The addition of live musicians brings a whole new level of excitement and spontaneity, and the larger cast creates even more opportunities for hilarity.
The show is faster, funnier, and the staging has become even more dynamic. It’s a bigger, bolder version of what we had before—and we’re all so excited to share it with a new audience!
Can you share some insights into the creative process behind the musical, especially your collaboration with director Joe McNeice?
My creative process is basically: write fast; follow the fun; consume enough THC to take down a small animal. Working with director Joe McNeice has been fantastic. We share an obsession with The Simpsons and gay pop culture, which comes through in the show. We’re both willing to experiment and push the limits, and it’s made for some truly unique moments in the show. Every collaborator and designer on the team is a genius.
The show features a unique blend of high-camp comedy and electropop music. How did you decide on this distinctive style?
I grew up on Ke$ha (now Kesha) and thought it would be entertaining juxtaposing high-energy pop against a dark historical backdrop. As for the comedy, I didn’t mean it to come across that way… I thought this was a drama. Are people saying it’s a comedy?
What themes or messages do you hope audiences will take away from Pop Off, Michelangelo!?
At its core, the show is about embracing life and your true self. Don’t wait till the afterlife to start living!
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Pop Off, Michelangelo!?
If you’re looking for something that’s fun, fast, and full of surprises, this is the show for you. You will not regret it. Bring your friends. Maybe don’t bring your kids.
