World premiere plans for Florence Welch’s ”Gatsby” musical revealed

Gatsby, a new musical from Florence Welch, Thomas Bartlett, and Martyna Majok, will have its world premiere in 2024 at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Based on F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the new musical is to be directed by Rachel Chavkin and choreographed by Sonya Tayeh. Music is by Grammy nominees Welch and Bartlett, with lyrics by Welch and book by Pulitzer winner Majok. Further details are forthcoming.

The show had previously been set to be directed by Rebecca Frecknall, who oversaw the hit productions of Cabaret and A Streetcar Named Desire in London.

Gatsby is one of many new versions of the iconic (and now public domain) novel racing for the stage, a list that also includes Nathan Tysen, Jason Howland, and Kait Kerrigan‘s musical adaptation, and an immersive version that’s expected to premiere at the Park Central Hotel New York this spring. The latter previously had a record-setting run in London.

A UK version of the show previously ran at Southwark Playhouse with a cast including Jodie Steele.

Welch is probably best known as lead vocalist of hit music act Florence and the Machine. The band previously penned a tune for the new film adaptation of Gatsby, titled “Over the Love”.

Originally published in 1925, The Great Gatsby follows eccentric millionaire Jay Gatsby, who will stop at nothing in his tragic pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a wealthy young woman whom he loved in his youth.

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