Make a day out of 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' in New York City

If you love the Parisian glamour, sultry dancing, or music of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, there are plenty more NYC activities you can-can check out.

Gillian RussoJune 26, 2024, 04:00

Celebrating its fifth anniversary on Broadway in 2024, Moulin Rouge! The Musical has established itself as a must-see show in New York's Theatre District — not unlike how the nightclub of its title is an iconic attraction in Paris, France.

The Tony Award-winning musical, adapted from Baz Luhrmann's Oscar-winning film, takes you into that club, where you can trade the everyday world for a few hours of dancing, champagne, and pleasure. Poor writer Christian enters this world and strikes up a romance with the star showgirl, Satine. But a jealous Duke, financial hardship, and illness put their love in jeopardy.

If you love the old-fashioned glamour, can-can dancing, or sheer spectacle of Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway, there are plenty of other attractions, activities, and restaurants you should try in New York. Read our guide below for how to make the best Moulin Rouge! The Musical-themed NYC trip, and get tickets to the show at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

Get Moulin Rouge! The Musical tickets now.

Museum of Broadway

The story of Moulin Rouge! pays homage to multiple works that came before it, like the opera La Bohème and the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice (currently dramatized on Broadway in Hadestown). Take your own trip through theatre history at the Museum of Broadway, which features memorabilia from iconic shows past and present.

See the past century-plus of Broadway come to life around you through costume and prop displays, interactive media, and photo ops. The museum also hosts a rotating lineup of special exhibits in addition to its permanent collection.

Get Museum of Broadway tickets now.

Address: 145 W 45th St. between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
Price: $$

Marseille French restaurant

Get a taste of Paris just around the corner from Moulin Rouge! The Musical. The French restaurant Marseille is a Theatre District staple offering traditional French dishes as well as French takes on American cuisine.

Go early, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. each day, to take advantage of the $1.50 oyster happy hour that also features discounted appetizers. Or go post-show to get the late-night prix fixe, which includes two courses for $32.

Address: 630 Ninth Ave. between 44th and 45th Streets
Price: $$$

Burlesque dance class at Broadway Dance Center

Mesmerized by the burlesque dancers on stage at Moulin Rouge! The Musical? Try your hand at their moves yourself! The Al Hirschfeld Theatre is located steps away from Broadway Dance Center, which hosts drop-in classes in every dance style you can imagine — including burlesque.

Burlesque jazz, cabaret burlesque, and burlesque chair dance classes are currently on offer, as well as heels classes, which often have a sultry flair. All the burlesque classes are "all levels," meaning you can take the class no matter what your experience level. Heels classes range from basic to advanced.

Check BDC's website at the above link for the most updated class schedule.

Address: 322 W. 45th St. between Eighth and Ninth Avenues
Price: $

The Little Red Lighthouse

"Moulin rouge" translates from French to "red windmill" — and an iconic red lighthouse is close enough to an iconic red windmill, right? Travel uptown to Fort Washington Park, beneath the George Washington Bridge, to see the historic landmark. It's no longer a functional lighthouse, but it's an authentic piece of city history and a great spot to get picturesque views of the Hudson River.

The park also boasts sports courts, barbecuing areas, and playgrounds, making it a great spot to visit with the family for outdoor recreation.

Address: Fort Washington Park, Hudson River Greenway
Price: Free

M Social Hotel

The M Social Hotel regularly hosts special events in partnership with Moulin Rouge! The Musical: A pop-up Broadway karaoke bar with Moulin-themed cocktails was there in early 2024, and the hotel co-hosted a Pride party with the show in June of that year.

Even when there's not a Broadway event going on at the M Social, its <a href="insert" https://www.beastandbutterfliesnyc.com/="_blank">Beast and Butterflies restaurant and bar is still a great dining option, and it's a convenient 10-minute walk from the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. You can still get a taste of Broadway via one of its signature cocktails, like the gin-based West Side Story.

Address: 226 W 52nd St. between Eighth Avenue and Broadway
Price: $$

Burlesque show at Company XIV

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is like burlesque-lite, infusing that performance style with traditional musical theatre. If you want a true burlesque show, the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn is your spot.

That area is home to Company XIV, a burlesque troupe that's put on critically acclaimed cabarets since 2006. The company's shows blend a lavish aesthetic with a variety of entertainment forms, from dance to opera to magic to acrobatics to striptease to slapstick.

The company's main venue, Théâtre XIV, hosts a rotating lineup of seasonal shows based on classic stories like The Nutcracker, Alice and Wonderland, and even the biblical legend of Adam and Eve. Across the street is the Cocktail Magique Theatre, home of the magic-meets-mixology show of the same name. All of Company XIV's shows, in fact, incorporate themed drinks and bites for a near-immersive experience.

Get Cocktail Magique tickets now.

Get Queen of Hearts tickets now.

Address: 383 Troutman St. (Théâtre XIV) and 17 Wyckoff Ave. (Cocktail Magique Theatre)
Price: $$$

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

See turn-of-the-century Paris come alive in Moulin Rouge! The Musical, which wraps audiences in the glamour of Baz Luhrmann's film as the Al Hirschfeld Theatre transforms into the landmark nightclub. There, the writer Christian and courtesan Satine engage in a forbidden love affair — but is love enough to overcome the obstacles in their way?

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is powered by truth, beauty, freedom, and love — not to mention dozens of pop songs spanning eight decades. There's music and spectacle for everyone to enjoy at the show, and you can-can-can get Broadway tickets right here.

Learn more about Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway.