Broadway’s iconic ‘Moulin Rouge’ will bring 8 shows to Sioux Falls over Valentine’s Day

This piece is sponsored by Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

When Bob Wendland’s friends and family travel to New York City, they know he’s the one to ask for a Broadway show recommendation.

And typically Wendland, who serves as director of performances at the Washington Pavilion and Orpheum Theater Center, gives them the same response.

“If they’re only going to see one show, for the last several years my answer has been the same: ‘Moulin Rouge,'” Wendland said.

“It’s so unique and so ‘Broadway,’ and it’s just quintessential musical theater. Everything has a veneer of glitz and glamour. The costumes are phenomenal, and you have to pick your jaw up off the floor with the choreography because it’s so incredible.”

Soon, theatergoers won’t have to travel across the country for that iconic Broadway experience. “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” arrives in Sioux Falls for eight shows Feb. 11-15 at the Washington Pavilion.

“The fact that we get to bring this to Sioux Falls for a full week is very exciting,” Wendland said. “They get to come to our home and make it their own for a week. It’s a big cast and a big crew, so a lot of professional Broadway artists will be coming here to bring this show to life.”

The winner of 10 Tony Awards, “Moulin Rouge” brings audiences into a world of romance and splendor, set in 1899 in Paris.

It tells the story of f a lovesick American writer, Christian, and Satine, the dazzling star of the Moulin Rouge nightclub. When their lives collide at the Moulin Rouge, they fall hopelessly in love, only to be thwarted by the nightclub’s host and impresario, Harold Zidler, and the Duke of Monroth, the wealthy and entitled patron of the club who thinks he can buy anything he wants — including Satine.

“It’s so entertaining and over the top — and it’s aware that it’s over the top, so it leans into it even further, which makes it impossible not to get swept up in the magic of the musical theater ‘Moulin Rouge’ brings to the stage,” Wendland said.

“It’s an incredibly talented and diverse group of artists because you have to be able to sing, dance and act really well for 2.5 hours, so you will see some of the best talent that is on Broadway or on the road because those are the only artists who can sustain this type of show. It’s so high energy from beginning to end that you’ll be very impressed by the talent that’s on stage.”

Expect music you’ll recognize from the hit movie version of the show, as well as additional songs just for the musical, including more modern top 40 hits.

“It’s fun in that it’s music everyone knows, and it’s just used to tell a story,” Wendland said.

The show originally was scheduled to come to the Washington Pavilion a different week but shifted to mid-February, which Wendland said became a fortunate turn of events.

“When we realized it was over Valentine’s Day weekend, we hoped people would welcome the change, and that’s what we’ve found,” he said. “People enjoy that this can be part of their Valentine’s Day plans, or their Galentine’s Day celebration, or a great night out with your favorite musical theater friend.”

There will be chances for question-and-answer sessions with the cast and crew after some of the performances, and The WP Cafe will host a meal before every show.

Look for a menu of beef bourguignon with garlic mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables and a dinner roll, along with specialty cocktails: the Kir Royale and French 75. There also will be a special Parlour ice cream flavor available.

“It will be a romantic and delicious experience,” Wendland said. “And there will be additional activations for guests in the lobby and Visual Arts Center before the show and at intermission, so watch for more bells and whistles to come.”

Ticket sales have picked up with the start of the year as people begin making plans for the weeks ahead, he added.

“We’re selling tickets every day now that people have settled into 2026,” he said. “There’s capacity, but they’re starting to go fast.”

To learn more and reserve your seats, visit here.