Just like us, 21-year-old singer + TikTok star Abigail Barlow is a huge fan of Bridgerton —but she took it up a notch by creating musical theatre songs based entirely on the show! It caught the attention of many singing TikTokers, including Nick Daly, a University of Michigan musical theatre acting and playwriting student, and the winner of Playbill’s 2020 Search for a Star contest. Barlowandbear@gmail.com. The musical concept took off garnering support from lovers of the show. “With COVID-19, too, it’s going to be a while before season two is up, and fans will want content, so we’re excited that we can create something for them.". Yes, a musical. ... Never an offer from a Bridgerton And Colin will never see Behind the yellow that covers me And after watching their videos, it ' s all we can think about. Among them, TikTok creator Abigail Barlow, who shared a musical theatre take with a song from the perspective of Daphne Bridgerton, the series’ leading lady. TikTok has proven time and time again to be a platform for rising artists to shine—and that ' s exactly what happened to Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear.. Broadway stars Norm Lewis and Kelli O'Hara will also perform in-person concerts. “I’m often asked what my dream role is, and I typically say that it hasn’t been written yet. It feels magical when we create together,” adds Barlow. “We’ve heard from Nicola Coughlan who plays Penelope, Phoebe Dynevor who plays Daphne and Luke Newton who plays Colin,” Barlow says. The Netflix hit "Bridgerton" inspired two TikTok users to write a bunch of original songs. DEFINITELY NOT @abigailbarlowww acting it out in the back while I play this . Reposting this INCREDIBLE CHOREOGRAPHY BY @elchoreography because WHATTT #bridgertonmusical. “We know all of the Top 40 songs, we grew up with musical theatre, and with Abigail’s pop sensibilities and my classical style, we really complement each other. The new Netflix series, which announced its season two renewal January 21, is described as a Regency-era Gossip Girl, following a group of families as they navigate London’s marriage and social scene. That’d be great, that’s the dream, too.”. The music duo took the social media platform by storm after releasing songs they'd written and composed based on Netflix's "biggest series ever," Bridgerton. “I know both of us have been in rooms with like, huge songwriters and artists and everything, and there’s something to say about being in the room with someone who is close to your age and you don’t feel like one or the other has, like, a serious leg up,” Bear says. Each book in the series follows a different member of the Bridgerton family. The two friends binge-watched Netflix ' s Bridgerton, just like us, except they saw potential to build upon it—into a musical.A musical? “I can’t even drink champagne/ No, without seeing your face/ Am I the one to blame?/ When we’re dancing in the same room, but you’re an ocean away,” Barlow sings in a breathy mixed voice. Maybe they are things that have been said before but they have never been said in the way we want to say them.”, Bear adds, “It’s really cool to see mainstream audiences fall in love with musical theatre again. Following season one’s release on December 25, the Shondaland-produced series quickly inspired a flurry of social media reactions and responses. The first song from Barlow and Bear is “Ocean Away,” a song that begins from the perspective of Bridgerton season 1 heroine Daphne Bridgerton. Featuring Emily Bear. I think there is sort of a pocket that I’ve found on TikTok, even before ‘Bridgerton,’ of just really creative, talented people who have not been discovered yet,” Barlow says. The compositions include songs for the characters Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), opera singer Siena Rosso (Sabrina Bartlett) and Lady Violet (Ruth Gemmell), the matriarch of the Bridgerton family. “It’s special. Bridgerton, a Regency-era bodice ripper, produced by Shonda Rhimes, has quickly became the most-streamed series on Netflix. “It’s just, the gatekeepers that be are kind of no longer in power. “When I binged Bridgerton, it was just immediate to me that it belonged on the stage,” says Barlow. “I do think that the pop music set to strings, all of the modernized pop music in the show, it created almost a genre of its own,” Barlow says. Meet the songwriters Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow as they discuss the history of their musical partnership and the creation of Bridgerton the Musical. That’s what Bridgerton did so well on screen and we want to translate that.”. “I sort of started writing from Daphne’s perspective, and I feel like I am a hopeless romantic and very naive like she once was,” Barlow says. This time, it’s Bridgerton. Being able to contribute and continue that movement is really special and dear to our hearts.”. Produced by Barlow & Bear. But Barlow and Bear are sure that none of this could have happened without TikTok and its unique quality of championing creativity. Barlow and Bear don’t know what form it will be taking yet—they said it could be a Broadway stage, a live-streamed TikTok concert, or a concept album. The support is absurd and what we needed to be like, ‘Okay, this is something that could go the distance.'”. The trio joins Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch, and Alisha Weir in the cast. And we’re reaching people that we’d never be able to reach on any other platform.”. They also have received acknowledgment from Bridgerton cast member Jonathan Bailey (who plays Anthony Bridgerton), who has his own ties to the the stage—like starring as Jamie in the 2016 London production of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years alongside Samantha Barks. When the Netflix series “Bridgerton” debuted on Dec. 25, 22-year-old singer-songwriter Abigail Barlow and 19-year-old pianist and composer Emily Bear binge-watched the entire show in a matter of days, as did as did millions of other households, making it Netflix’s most-watched original series. Liam Daniel / Netflix Abigail Barlow is a 22-year-old pop singer-songwriter with magenta hair. Ocean Away - Bridgerton Musical: Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear The Shed Artistic Director Alex Poots discusses the many precautions that have been taken to help ensure everyone's safety. I think even on YouTube, it’s hard to break through the noise. In the News: Watch Shoshana Bean Perform 'Amplify' From Maestra Music, 17 Broadway Plays and Musicals You Can Watch On Stage From Home, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dr. Fauci, More Will Appear in COVID-19 Vaccine NBC Special, Berkshire Theatre Group Sets Outdoor 2021 Season With. But on TikTok, the algorithm’s so specific that if one person sees your stuff and thinks you’re great, the rest of the world will be able to see it too.”, he fact that we can reach so many people and talk back and forth with them and discuss ideas and thoughts, it’s like we’re workshopping it instantly. Although that first video currently stands at an impressive 1.5 million views, the song that truly sent the concept into viral territory was “Burn for You,” which Barlow posted that same day. “We wanted to be able to tell a stand-alone story and still honor what was created in the books and the TV show,” says Barlow. Bridgerton, a Regency-era bodice ripper, produced by Shonda Rhimes, has quickly became the most-streamed series on Netflix. Barlow and Bear say they have taken everyone’s suggestions in stride, tweaking and adding to their own compositions. Get an exclusive sneak peek at a clue package for The Bee inside. It’s just so poetic in the way it’s written,” Barlow tells Variety. Absolutely blown away by the Bridgerton musical playing out on TikTok, Standing ovation for @abigailbarloww & @nick_t_daly pic.twitter.com/hoHsDtNyAE. Let me know if you want to see how I made it! CLICK HERE . Listen to the track above. Soon Barlow and her writing partner Emily Bear were writing more songs and releasing TikToks for each of Bridgerton’s leading characters, with Bear … Regardless of what form it takes, Barlow and Bear are excited to make this musical for fans of the show, and are mindful they want to make it as accessible and inclusive as possible for those who would might not be able to attend a Broadway show even after it reopens. This allows Black and Brown audience members to be invested in the universe of the story—the beautiful, complex, 19th century world that is the Bridgerton universe.”. “So as soon as I finished binging it, I just kept picking all of these little moments that are so iconically written in the show and started developing this idea.”, The particular piece of dialogue that started it all was spoken by Lord Henry Granville (Julian Ovenden), who is revealed to be in a secret relationship with Lord Wetherby (Ned Porteous). A simple piano ballad, the song explores Daphne’s emotions when she begins to fall for Simon in the midst of their faux romance. Reposting this INCREDIBLE CHOREOGRAPHY BY @elchoreography because WHATTT �������� ##bridgertonmusical, SET MODEL for ##bridgertonmusical based on my original design! Abigail Barlow, left, and Emily Bear are the creative duo behind Bridgerton the musical. Inspired by the steamy scene in episode 5 in which Simon tells Daphne “I burn for you,” the song is a passionate duet with plenty of tension built in. Her partner, 19-year-old Emily Bear, is trained in classical and jazz piano and has worked with Quincy Jones. The people have the power, and that’s an exciting thing.”. “I’d be happy if I were cast as a floorboard—I’m just so inspired by the work that Abigail and Emily are doing,” says Daly. “We have a lot of exciting paths that could happen, and we’re talking to a lot of different people,” says Bear. Ignore the terrible ✨queens English✨ #IsThisAvailable #fyp. But on TikTok, the algorithm’s so specific that if one person sees your stuff and thinks you’re great, the rest of the world will be able to see it too.”, Bear adds: “The fact that we can reach so many people and talk back and forth with them and discuss ideas and thoughts, it’s like we’re workshopping it instantly. The ‘Bridgerton Musical’ community has since adapted Barlow and Bear’s project into Playbill art, choreographed dances, set designs, production and merchandise ideas. I’m pitchy but I’m having too much fun writing this ✨ #IsThisAvailable #fyp. So she recruited Bear, a former child piano prodigy who calls Quincy Jones her mentor and has spent the last 10 years studying orchestration and composition at Juilliard and New York University. As for what’s next, Barlow and Bear keep mum, but say that both a concept album and Broadway are possibilities. Wouldn’t that be nice, if the world opened back up and we could put on ‘Bridgerton: The Musical?'”. Unable to be with his true love at a ball, he tells Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson): “You have no idea what it’s like to be in a room with someone you can’t live without, and feel like they’re oceans away from you.”. Emily’s Socials. "We wanted to be able to tell a stand-alone story and still … Bridgerton is based on a book series by Julia Quinn of the same name. After Barlow had fully processed the insane reaction to her first two videos, she knew she couldn’t do the rest alone. Both Pasek and Paul and Miranda are no strangers to seeing their own work on stage and screen, so which medium is the Bridgerton TikTok musical heading towards? See what's coming to HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, and more this month. Bridgerton: The Musical creators Abigal Barlow and Emily Bear spoke to Today about how their social media show came together. “We’re writing a song right now for the Queen called ‘Entertain Me,’ and the string part and the bass of it sounds almost straightforward classical, but then we have pop elements and a pop melody,” Bear says. I think even on YouTube, it’s hard to break through the noise. After the success of the first one, Barlow … the winner of Playbill’s 2020 Search for a Star contest. It’s an immersive experience that can’t be replicated, but while we all wait with bated breath to sit in those velvet-lined seats again, pop-singer Abigail Barlow and piano prodigy Emily Bear have been keeping us company with their budding project, Bridgerton the … LUNDEN: Barlow and Bear's frequent postings have even been noticed by "Bridgerton" cast members. Barlow & Bear. Not long after it premiered on Christmas, two young songwriters asked on TikTok: "Ok but what if Bridgerton was a musical?" Emily is just a musical beast!” says Daly. Since forming the partnership, Barlow and Bear have written nine more songs, with a 10th almost finished. While those who watched ‘Bridgerton’ in its initial release month were drawn in by its promise of drama, gossip, and scandal, new audiences are being pulled in by its new, free advertising – viral internet trends and TikTok videos. “It’s just, the gatekeepers that be are kind of no longer in power. Ironically, the two had actually first met working on another musical theater project, but something about this “Bridgerton” idea felt different. “It allowed me as a pop writer and [Bear] with lots of education and a pop writer in her own right, to be able to sit down and be like, ‘How do we infuse pop into this Regency Era project, in a way that almost goes unnoticed but makes you feel like you’re part of the experience?'”. The duo says the fact that they have a yin yang quality — and were friends before they were colleagues — has made their collaboration extremely rewarding. “If this is what you call a honeymoon/ Pacing round our separate rooms/ Running from our elaborate ruse/ We’re doomed,” Barlow sings as Daphne in the beginning of the song. “We both have written with so many different people since and before we moved to L.A., but nothing has quite felt like this,” Bear says. Meet Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, creators of "Bridgerton: The Musical." “As young women, we try to say everything in a clever way. If I Were a Man is a demo for the up and coming Bridgerton Musical, written by Barlow and her writing partner and composer, Emily Bear. Playbill Vault's Today in Theatre History: April 3, Armie Hammer Withdraws From Broadway Return of. And like its TikTok musical predecessor, Ratatouille, Bridgerton has been inspiring creatives beyond songwriters and musicians, including choreography from @elchoreography and scenic design from @katieoxmanofficial. “We want to be fresh and exciting,” says Barlow. “We have a lot of different options right now, because not only have people been paying attention, but now also the executives are paying attention,” Bear says. I think [Dear Evan Hansen songwriters Benj] Pasek and [Justin] Paul and Lin-Manuel [Miranda] started that. “Julia Quinn has reached out to us and is wowed by what we’re doing. Not long after it premiered on Christmas, two young songwriters asked on TikTok: "Ok but what if Bridgerton was a musical?" Instagram Twitter YOUTUBE TIKTOK. And boy, do the people love it. Their passion sparks passion. “It’s a very exciting time for music and for musical theater,” Barlow says. The Tracy Letts play intends to reopen on Broadway in March 2022. Soon Barlow and her writing partner Emily Bear were writing more songs and releasing TikToks for each of Bridgerton’s leading characters, with Bear orchestrating the arrangements and producing official tracks. “I feel like I can definitely tap into that character, so you know, who knows, maybe? Sign up for exclusive discounts and save up to 50% on tickets! “I am a big Bridgerton fan, so when Abigail Barlow's original TikTok showed up on my For You Page, I was absolutely enamored with it—especially when she introduced Emily Bear as her writing partner! While most have been hoping that things associated with 2020 stay in 2020, there's one beloved trend following us into 2021: TikTok musical adaptations. They even started doing livestreams on TikTok and Instagram documenting their songwriting process, allowing “Bridgerton: The Musical” enthusiasts to have even more of an input. The first season of the show was based on Julia’s first book in the series, The Duke and I.The next book is titled The Viscount Who Loved Me and follows Daphne’s brother, Lord Anthony Bridgerton, who is played by Jonathan Bailey. The duet between Daly and Barlow garnered the attention of Netflix’s official TikTok account and even carried over to the streaming platform’s other social media channels. Album Brigerton the Musical: Demo. © Copyright 2021 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. And I think that is very, very specific to TikTok. When the Netflix series “Bridgerton” debuted on Dec. 25, 22-year-old singer-songwriter Abigail Barlow and 19-year-old pianist and composer Emily Bear binge-watched the … But the vocals for Simon are so beautiful, Simon would absolutely be my dream role. ##duet with @abigailbarlowww my formal application to be the duke of bridgertontok. Beyond the mainstream audience, Barlow and Bear’s idea has gained recognition from Samantha Barks, who portrayed Éponine in the 2012 film adaptation of “Les Misérables,” as well as a large percentage of the “Bridgerton” cast and Julia Quinn, the author of the “Bridgerton” novels.