Back to The Future: The Musical: An Interview with Caden Brauch aka Marty McFly

By Cesar A Reyes

Great Scott! Back to the Future, the beloved, cinematic classic is now a Broadway musical with its destination set for San Diego January 14-19 at the Civic Center.

Winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, four WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Musical, and the Broadway World Award for Best New Musical, Back to the Future: The Musical is adapted for the stage by the iconic film’s creators Bob Gale (Back to the Future trilogy) and Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) and directed by the Tony Award®-winner John Rando with original music by multi-Grammy® winners Alan Silvestri (Avengers: Endgame) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”), alongside hit songs from the movie including “The Power of Love,” “Johnny B. Goode,” “Earth Angel,” and “Back in Time.”

When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself… back to the future. When Back to the Future hits 88mph, it’ll change musical theatre history forever.

We catch up with Caden Brauch to talk about the role of Marty and being on the road with the show.

Please introduce yourself (tell us about you)?

My name is Caden Brauch and I’m playing Marty McFly. I grew up in Seattle, WA doing youth and professional theater. This is my first national tour/professional job since I moved to New York City 3 years ago, and I’m so happy to be here!

When did you discover your passion for musical theater?

Well, I was very hyper and not good at sports growing up, so that’s when I started doing theater camps in elementary school. But my real passion came in high school when I was booking professional jobs in the Seattle area and I wasn’t just a cute kid anymore. I thought this was something I could really pursue as a career. Performing is the only thing that doesn’t feel like work to me; I feel like I can continue to be myself onstage.

How did Marty McFly come into your life?

Like with most everyone, I watched the movie as a kid and would always quote it with my family. It’s the best movie. It’s so iconic and so much fun, and that really translates to the stage show. It’s such an easy show to have fun with and that’s what makes it so rewarding to perform every night.

What is your favorite part of the show?

I grew up listening to classic rock so singing “Johnny B. Goode”, “The Power of Love”, and “Back in Time” at the end of the show is always so much fun. Especially since the audience and I have gone on this journey together for the last two hours or so, and now we get to celebrate and rock out together. 

If you could go back to the future what place and time would you visit?

I would love to go back to when rock and roll really started to pick up in the 70s and 80s. To go see shows on the Sunset Strip of some of my favorite bands of that time before they really blew up would be so cool. Plus, I think Marty and I would get along pretty well!

Touring life can be demanding but also rewarding, can you tell us what your experience has been?

It’s been so much fun exploring all these different cities across the country. Especially places I would’ve never thought to explore, and there have been some real hidden gems. It’s a real treat to have a job that combines my two passions of performing and traveling. 

We are starting a new year what are you looking forward to 2025?

I’m really looking forward to traveling to even more new cities, and bringing the joy and hope that this show is full of to all these places. There are only a few more stops this year of places I’ve been to before, so I’m very excited to explore new cities and meet the wonderful, welcoming people of those cities after the shows!

Where can people follow you? 

My Instagram is @caden.brauch, Follow along for behind the scenes of touring!