In a theatrical twist echoing the drama of Gwyneth Paltrow’s courtroom clash with a retired Utah optometrist, Awkward Productions presents “Gwyneth Goes Skiing” at London’s Pleasance Theatre this December. The musical, inspired by Paltrow’s legal saga, promises audiences a front-row seat to the courtroom theatrics, with the audience serving as the jury.
With original songs crafted by US singer-songwriter Leland, known for collaborations with Selena Gomez and Troye Sivan, the production delves into the collision between Paltrow and Terry Sanderson during a skiing mishap at Deer Valley ski resort in 2016.
The trial, which captured global attention, featured teary testimonies, chic outfits, and a memorable parting line from Paltrow: “I wish you well.” Paltrow faced a $3 million lawsuit, later reduced to $300,000, alleging a traumatic brain injury and broken ribs caused by the collision. In a countersuit, Paltrow claimed Sanderson struck her, with her attorneys dismissing his claims as “utter BS.”
The courtroom spectacle took center stage in March, unfolding in daily headlines worldwide. Sanderson’s testimony included claims of a brain injury affecting his enjoyment of wine tastings and the humorous lament that suing a celebrity hindered his future on dating sites. Paltrow’s cool response to her suffering—“Well, we lost half a day of skiing”—became a memorable moment.
Airing on live television, the trial sparked a wave of memes and analysis of Paltrow’s “stealth wealth” wardrobe, much of which was available for purchase on her Goop wellness website.
In April, jurors found Sanderson at fault and ordered him to pay Paltrow a symbolic $1 in damages, along with seven-figure legal fees. Despite the verdict, Sanderson later expressed regret, stating the lawsuit was “absolutely not” worth pursuing.
The musical, featuring actor Linus Karp as Paltrow and Joseph Martin as Sanderson, promises a captivating and humorous rendition of this collision of worlds—both on and off the slopes. “She’s the Goop-founding, Door-Sliding, Shakespeare-In-Loving, consciously-uncoupling Hollywood superstar. He’s a retired Optometrist from Utah. In 2016, they went skiing,” the musical’s description teases. “On the slopes of Deer Valley, their worlds collided, and so did they – literally. Ouch. Seven years later in 2023, they went to court. Double ouch.” Don’t miss the theatrics of “Gwyneth Goes Skiing” as it takes audiences on a slope-side journey through celebrity collisions and courtroom showdowns.