Why Am I So Single?

Why Am I So Single?
A Big Fancy Musical
West End Promotional Poster
Music	Toby Marlow Lucy Moss
Lyrics	Toby Marlow Lucy Moss
Book	Toby Marlow Lucy Moss
Productions	2024 West End

Why Am I So Single? is a musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. Loosely based on their own lives, Why Am I So Single? follows two musical theatre writers and best friends who are struggling to navigate the frustrations of being constantly single while also trying to write a musical.

Development

Following the success of Six, Marlow and Moss felt pressure to write a follow-up musical, which prompted them to attend a writer's retreat in Connecticut. As they began working on ideas, they were drawn to talk about their own lives and those of their friends. As a result, Marlow and Moss began writing a musical loosely based on their own experiences.

In 2023, a developmental workshop was held at the Lilian Baylis Studio Theatre at Sadler's Wells. This included a semi-staged public workshop presentation performed for a ticketed audience.

Production history

West End (2024)

On 14 February 2024, a launch event was held to announce plans for the musical's premiere. It was announced that Why Am I So Single? would play in the West End at the Garrick Theatre from August 2024. Jo Foster and Leesa Tulley were cast in the lead roles, with Foster reprising their role from the workshop. Preview performances began on 27 August 2024 and the show officially opened on 12 September 2024. The production is directed by Moss, with choreography by Ellen Kane, and a set design by Moi Tran. On 25 October 2024, it was announced that the show would close early on 19 January 2025 but the producers said they are not discounting the possibility of bringing the show back to London in the future and discussions for potential productions in the US and around the world already underway.

Cast and characters

Character	West End
	2024
Oliver	Jo Foster
Nancy	Leesa Tulley
Artie	Noah Thomas
Standby Oliver	Jordan Cambridge-Taylor
Standby Nancy	Collette Guitart
Ensemble	Jemima Brown, Josh Butler, Natasha Leaver, Ran Marner, Jamel Matthias, Olivia O'Connor, Joshian Angelo Omaña, Natasha Wilde, Rhys Wilkinson, Callum Bell, Owen Mchugh, Caitlin Redpath

Musical Numbers

Act 1:

• "Prologue"
• "Why Am I So Single?"
• "8 Dates"
• "I Got Off the Plane"
• "Why Am I So Single? (Reprise)"
• "C U Never"
• "Meet Market"
• "Shhh!!!!"
• "Just in Case"
• "Interlude in B Minor"

Act 2:

• "Clubs Glorious Clubs"
• "No Question"
• "Disco Ball"
• "Why Am I So Single? (Reprise: Pig in the City)"
• "Men R Trash"
• "Just in Case (Reprise)"
• "Lost"
• "Why Am I Still Reprising?"
• "Better Off Love Story"

Critical reception

The show has received generally positive reviews from critics, following its press night performance on 11 September 2024. In Arifa Akbar’s three-star review for The Guardian, she praised the songs saying “not as infectious as Six but the songs are better crafted, more heartfelt, the lyrics gleaming with wit, intelligence, bravura and, in the second half, emotional heft.” Sarah Crompton called the show, “a heartfelt, meta-theatrical marvel” in a five-star review for WhatsOnStage. Nick Curtis called the show “crackerjack show proves Six creators are no one-hit wonders” in a four-star review for the Evening Standard. Harvey Morton called the show “the hottest show in the West End right now” in a five-star review for Queerly. The performances by Jo Foster & Leesa Tulley were both praised by critics and the choreography by Ellen Kane also received praise. However, some critics thought that the writing wasn’t great and that the show’s runtime should’ve been shortened to around 90 minutes.

External links

• Official website