Original musicals are a hallmark of Fringe, which is no surprise as it is the home of the very first production of SiX and, more recently, Rob Madge's My Son's a Queer, which is still in planning for a Broadway run. However, the beauty of Fringe theatre is when writers and performers get together and make an entire, hour-long musical with fully produced songs on an incredibly specific topic, it's shocking how our ADHD and side-gig infested generation has the time to take it from start to finish! Examples in the past: Chriskirkpatrickmas, Tim Murray is Witches, and Coffee Kid. This year is no exception.

Here are the musicals at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe.

Crispr! The Musical

You know that fun thing you do with your fiance where you read a published scientific paper and write an hour-long musical about it? Yeah, normal. Well, that seems to be the thing to do for the real-life engaged leads in Crispr! The Musical, made by NYC's Surf Rock Media. From the description: "Two struggling genetics researchers are determined to create the world’s first super-soyabean, but a rival lab will stop at nothing to defeat them. Featuring original songs, dance, action-packed battles and shocking twists, Crispr! the Musical is a high-energy romp that will knock your socks off." It honestly looks hilarious, and early reviews from its NYC run say the musical numbers are well made, and the dance numbers are surprisingly complicated. It's definitely perfect for Fringe.

Jul 31, Aug 1-25

C ARTS | C venues | C aquila - temple

20:40 - 21:35

The Emu War: A New Musical

One of my favorite subgenres at EdFringe is the shows based on little-known historical events that sound way too weird to be true. The Emu War from Bristol-based Pearl Whirl Productions is a perfect addition. From the description: "Inspired by the true events of The Great Emu War of 1932, this new comedy musical tells the story of WW1 veterans trying to grow wheat in the Australian outback. Unfortunately, the local emus develop a taste for the crops, so the government sends in the army to fight them. Man vs Emu, who will triumph?" This show will surely send any audience member down a Wikipedia rabbit hole directly afterward, and I look forward to it!

Jul 31, Aug 1-25

Pleasance Courtyard - Pleasance Two

12:00 - 13:10

I Wish You Well – The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-Trial Musical

This musical has been causing an insane amount of buzz in the last few months, and for good reasons: 1. Stars Diana Vickers of The X Factor fame 2. Choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing judge Dame Arlene Philips

3. Produced by Awkward Productions, who made the 5-star 2023 show Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story

4. Involvement from Emmy and Tony award winner Darren Criss and Fringe darling Cat Cohen 5. Featured as one of the shows to see by Playbill and published in programs all around NYC

Oddly, the show is half produced by Pleasance but is showing in the Udderbelly. However, size-wise, that's a dream come true for the musical! That spot must have a tunnel that goes directly to the West End because that is where so many shows that play there go, including 2022's Rob Madge's My Son is a Queer and 2023's Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder. This show is already set to have an international transfer in Utah, where the actual event happened. Who knows what the future holds, but this is a chance to see the world premiere of a musical that will be making headlines.

Jul 31, Aug 1-11, 13-26

Underbelly, George Square - Udderbelly

17:45 - 18:45

A Jaffa Cake Musical

The beloved biscuit...or cake? In 1991, a judge had the final say in an event on which this musical is based. This comes from Gigglemug Productions, known for their hilarious specific musicals which was called 'Incredible!' by Bear Grylls, who took a break from the wilderness to see one of them. The Jaffa is undoubtedly a WELL-loved UK treat, and we can only hope for a sweet musical.

Jul 31, Aug 1-12, 14-26

Pleasance Courtyard - Pleasance Two

15:10 - 16:10

Pop Off, Michelangelo!

Taking a break from his Ninja Turtle adaptation, Michelangelo will now be....checks notes....a queer youth in Italy.

From the description: "...that reimagines the lives of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. This world premiere portrays the duo as childhood best friends in Florence, who embark on a quest to become the greatest artists of all time, seeking divine forgiveness for being gay." From Blair Russell Productions, who are also doing Diva: Live From Hell this year, definitely will be on my list.

Jul 31, Aug 1-11, 13-26

Gilded Balloon Patter House - Big Yin

18:30 - 19:30

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Our Little Secret: The 23andMe Musical

I actually personally had a wild reveal from a 23andMe test in my family, and cheaters around the world are terrified that their infidelity will be found out all these years later. So, what does that call for? A cheery musical, of course! From the description: "What does a 31-year-old theatre kid do when a DNA test reveals that his biological parents aren't quite who he thought they were? Write a musical, of course! In this hilarious, moving and true story, Noam Tomaschoff grapples with questions of family, identity and just how many brothers and sisters he really has." It is a one-man show, which is extremely hit or miss for musicals at Edinburgh Fringe, but it also won Best of Fringe 2023 in Toronto Fringe, putting it in a great place to start!

Jul 31, Aug 1-6, 8-11, 14-19, 21-26 Gilded Balloon Patter House - Doonstairs 17:30 - 18:30