Celebrated but impetuous film director Guido Contini, succumbing to the pressures of filming his latest film epic, suffers a midlife crisis which blocks his creative impulses and entangles him in a web of romantic difficulties in early-1960s Venice. One by one, women from his past and present – including his mother, his wife, his mistress, and his leading lady – haunt, instruct, scold, seduce and encourage him until this Casanova finally learns to grow up.

Nine is based on the 1963 autobiographical film 8½ by Federico Fellini. It is a musical with extraordinarily powerful music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and an inventive book by Arthur Kopit.

The original Broadway production opened in 1982 and ran for 729 performances, starring Raul Julia and directed by Tommy Tune. The musical won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has enjoyed a number of revivals. A film adaptation was released in 2009.