Pop Off, Michelangelo! is the high-camp musical comedy that stole the Fringe and is now making its limited West End debut at Underbelly Boulevard (24 June – 13 July). With a 75-minute blast of electropop bangers, unhinged Renaissance drama, and unapologetic queer joy, this gloriously irreverent show reimagines the rivalry between Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci through a fabulously theatrical lens.
We caught up with Dylan MarcAurele, the show’s composer and co-writer, to find out what inspired the madness — and what he hopes audiences take away from it.
What inspired you to write Pop Off, Michelangelo!, and how did you come up with the idea for the story?
Dylan: I got to go to Italy with my husband for our honeymoon, and when we visited the Accademia Gallery of Florence, a very enthusiastic tour guide told us all about how Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci were both gay artists, bitter rivals, but completely different in their lifestyles and philosophies. Flash forward a bit and I finally saw Wicked for the first time and I thought: what if these two opposite personalities went to school together, and what if they were once best friends?
The show is a celebration of LGBTQ+ identity. How do you hope audiences will connect with the themes of the musical?
Dylan: It’s 99% comedy, but if there’s a little message tucked in there, it’s that when you’re marginalized, you sometimes suppress who you are. The show reminds you to be yourself and to appreciate your real friends, not seek validation from people and institutions who don’t get you.
After its success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, what’s it like bringing Pop Off, Michelangelo! to London for a limited run?
Dylan: It’s an incredible next step after having a dream of a run at the Fringe. I got to expand the show a bit: add in some new comedic material; a song by a new character cryptically referred to as “Italian Chef”; and of course, a larger cast and a live band! It’ll still feel intimate and Fringe-y, but elevated and able to be seen by even more people.
What do you think makes the combination of camp, artistry, and over-the-top drama so appealing in Pop Off, Michelangelo!?
Dylan: My (at this point nearly fully-rotted) brain sometimes has trouble connecting to history. But I think when you make it feel like a chick flick, it suddenly becomes more vibrant and relatable. Also, comedy is tragedy plus time. We can all agree that plague rats and Vatican-ordered nose-amputation is hilarious, right? …Right?
What do you hope people take away from seeing the show, especially in terms of its LGBTQ+ representation?
Dylan: Just because you’re a bottom, doesn’t mean you can’t reach the top!
