Back to the Future the Musical • June 9, 2026 • Eccles Theater
Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe
Back to the Future: The Musical Brings Time-Traveling Spectacle to Eccles Theater
There are few films as beloved and instantly recognizable as Back to the Future, so transforming the iconic movie into a stage musical comes with enormous expectations. Audiences at Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City arrived with memories of DeLoreans, flux capacitors, and Marty McFly’s adventures firmly in mind. What they experienced was a production that embraced the spirit of the original film while delivering a theatrical spectacle that stood on its own.
Rather than a curtain rising, we saw what looked similar to the graphics that are on the time machine. Instead of the dates mentioned in the movie and in this production, we saw our current date of the show, June 9, 2026 and city, Salt Lake City of course. Then the dates scroll back to 1985 the time of the production. The audience cheered the effect.
Back to the Future: The Musical takes the foundation of the classic movie and enhances it with energetic musical numbers, impressive visual effects, and a level of stagecraft that constantly kept the audience engaged.
The story remains largely faithful to the film. Marty McFly is a typical teenager who finds himself unexpectedly transported from 1985 back to 1955 through the inventions of the eccentric Doc Brown. Once there, Marty accidentally disrupts the timeline and must find a way to ensure his parents fall in love while also discovering a path back to the future. The plot still contains all the humor, heart, and excitement that made the movie such a cultural phenomenon.
Lucas Hallaur, the actor portraying Marty, carried much of the production’s weight. He did so with confidence and charisma. Marty is a demanding role that requires strong acting, comedic timing, a lot of physicality, and musical ability. Throughout the evening, Hallaur captured the character’s youthful energy while making the role feel fresh rather than an imitation of the film version. I think I was most impressed by this because he resembles Michael J. Fox so strongly. He could have mimicked Fox entirely, but instead, he tipped his cap to that portrayal and brought it to life on the stage.
Equally impressive was David Josefsberg, who played Doc Brown. The character’s eccentric personality is one of the story’s greatest strengths, and Josefsberg embraced every opportunity to showcase Doc’s quirky brilliance. Whether delivering rapid-fire dialogue or participating in the show’s musical numbers, he brought an infectious enthusiasm that energized every scene in which he appeared.
The supporting cast also contributed significantly to the production’s success. Mike Bindeman who portrayed George McFly and Lorraine Baines, played by Kathryn Adeline, delivered performances filled with humor and charm. George’s awkwardness and gradual growth into self-confidence created some of the evening’s biggest laughs, while Lorraine’s storyline balanced comedy with genuine emotion. Their chemistry helped ground the fantastical elements of the plot and reminded audiences that the heart of the story remains a family drama wrapped inside a science-fiction adventure.
Musically, the show succeeds by blending original songs with familiar moments audiences expect. The score helps expand character motivations while maintaining the fun, upbeat atmosphere associated with the franchise. The original songs didn’t totally land with me in the way I hoped they would. However, I thought they did their job in facilitating strong moments in the show and moving the story along smoothly. Several numbers featured impressive choreography that transformed the stage into a bustling snapshot of 1950s America. The ensemble cast moved seamlessly through these sequences, creating vibrant scenes that felt cinematic despite being performed live.
One of the production’s greatest achievements is its visual design. The set changes occurred with remarkable fluidity, transporting audiences between locations with minimal interruption. Clever projections, lighting effects, and moving set pieces combined to create a sense of constant momentum. Rather than relying solely on nostalgia, the creative team utilized modern theatrical technology to enhance the storytelling.
Of course, the biggest question entering the performance concerned the DeLorean itself. Fans know that the time-traveling car is as important as any character in the show, and the production did not disappoint. Without revealing too much, the staging surrounding the DeLorean generated some of the loudest reactions of the night. Gasps, cheers, and spontaneous applause erupted throughout several sequences, particularly during the show’s climactic moments. The special effects were executed with precision and demonstrated just how far theatrical productions have evolved in recent years. What this production does with the DeLorean is worth the price of admission. It’s for sure one of the stars of the show.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Back to the Future: The Musical is its ability to appeal to multiple generations simultaneously. Longtime fans of the film, many of whom were dressed up in various costumes from the movie, enjoyed seeing beloved characters and iconic scenes recreated on stage, while younger audience members experienced the story through the excitement of live theater. The result was an audience that remained engaged from beginning to end, frequently responding with laughter, applause, and enthusiastic reactions throughout the evening.
As the production reached its thrilling finale, the audience at Eccles Theater responded with a standing ovation that reflected the energy and excitement generated throughout the performance. The combination of strong performances, creative staging, memorable music, and remarkable technical achievements created a theatrical experience that felt both nostalgic and new.
Back to the Future: The Musical successfully accomplishes what many film-to-stage adaptations struggle to achieve. It honors the source material while embracing the possibilities of live theater. For fans of the original movie and newcomers alike, the production delivers a fun, visually spectacular adventure that proves some stories truly are timeless.
There is still Time to see Back to the Future: The Musical. The show runs at Eccles Theater until June 14. Click here for ticket information.