Florence Welch, who has always embraced a certain Jazz Age chic and joie de vivre, will bring her interpretation of the Great American Novel, The Great Gatsby, to theatrical stages next year. Yes, The Great Gatsby and all of its Jazz Age splendor is being turned into a musical.
In 2021, the novel entered the public domain, spurring speculation as to whether an onslaught of adaptions would ensue as a result. Welch’s production seems to be one such event, though it is unclear whether this project has been in the works for a while. This will be far from the first Gatsby adaptation. The 1925 book inspired a range of films, including, notably, Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 feature starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The novel has also hit the stage multiple times, as plays, an opera, and a ballet. However, this may be the book’s first ever musical treatment.
The show, titled Gatsby: A New Musical, will stem from Fitzgerald’s classic work, where newcomer Nick Carraway befriends the mysterious titan Jay Gatsby. The pair attend extravagant parties at Gatsby’s mansion, pine after Gatsby’s love interest, Daisy Buchanan, and ponder the existence of the American dream.
“This book has haunted me for a large part of my life,” Welch said in a statement. “It contains some of my favorite lines in literature. Musicals were my first love, and I feel a deep connection to Fitzgerald’s broken romanticism. It is an honor to have been offered the chance to recreate this book in song.”
The musical will premiere at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University in 2024. the show’s team is hopeful for a Broadway run after its regional premiere. No specific premiere date has been set yet for the A.R.T. production, and no casting news has been announced.
In the meantime, read (or re-read) The Great Gatsby.
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