Originally a moderately successful black comedy starring Bill Murray in his 1980s marquee-heyday, Groundhog Day has the unfortunate distinction of having an extra bite these days — the fate of a lot of older social satire of late — in its unintentional metaphor for living in America courtesy 2026. Wake up. Scream in agony. Check phone to see (1.) what Trump has done or (2.) what natural disaster is headed our way. Lather, rinse, repeat on a seemingly endless loop.
The movie starred Murray as a big(ish) city TV reporter sent to cover the Punxatawny groundhog ceremony. He improbably gets caught in a time loop and … dark hilarity ensues. This musical, with a book by original screenwriter Danny Rubin and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, has become a hit on Broadway and the West End, even nominated for a Tony along the way. And what it lacks in Murray’s world-weary thousand-yard stare as he stumbles through small-town life in repeat, it makes up for with great songs, impeccable comic timing and a willingness to go even darker(!) than the film.
Various times, Friday-Sunday, Sept. 18-10, Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave., drphillipscenter.org, $29-$70.
