Dueling Gatsbys?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 5:55pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Alysha-Umphress-Jay-Armstrong-Johnson-More-to-Star-in-Reading-of-THE-GREAT-GATSBY-New-Musical-Adaptation-20220519

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/apr/28/florence-welch-to-adapt-great-gatsby-broadway-musical-thomas-bartlett-martyna-majok

I guess there was a mad dash when the book went into public domain. Which one will get a full production first? Will we have another Wild Party situation on our hands?

Incidentally - I have nothing against Jay Armstrong Johnson, but he strikes me as more of a Nick than a Gatsby.

Updated On: 5/19/22 at 05:55 PM

[joshdog2014]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 6:16pm

How ironic will it be when a stage production of Gatsby happens before Bombshell

Updated On: 5/19/22 at 06:16 PM

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 6:38pm

If modern commercial Broadway has taught us anything, the only way to settle this is reality talent show.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 6:57pm

Neither will find itself anywhere near Broadway.  For decades there have many attempts on a stage adaptation of THE GREAT GATSBY.  We’ll see this the same season Kristin Chenoweth’s Broadway musical adaptation of DEATH BECOMES HER lands on Broadway, too.  

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 6:59pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Neither will find itself anywhere near Broadway. For decades there have many attempts on a stage adaptation of THE GREAT GATSBY. We’ll see this the same season Kristin Chenoweth’s Broadway musical adaptation of DEATH BECOMES HER lands on Broadway, too. "

That makes me sad. I was actually wondering the other a month or so ago why Gatsby hasn’t been adapted into a musical. The story feels so easily to make into a hit show. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 7:01pm

I have higher hopes for the Welch version compared to Howland’s.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 7:14pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "I have higher hopes for the Welch version compared to Howland’s."

 

Yes.  Not enthused about "bringing Gatsby into the 21st Century".  Looking forward to how they handle "the green light at the end of the dock" musically.

 

Updated On: 5/19/22 at 07:14 PM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 7:16pm

I think this could be an interesting little chamber musical. Then again, we already have an opera, three film versions, and at least one (non-musical) stage adaptation which never really went anywhere. Do we need more Gatsby viewing options at this point? I’m curious to see either of these musical versions though.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 7:50pm

I've taught the book countless times in my career and have seem most of the movie adaptations as well as the dreadful opera. I truly feel that THE GREAT GATSBY's only home is on the printed page.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 8:05pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Neither will find itself anywhere near Broadway. For decades there have many attempts on a stage adaptation of THE GREAT GATSBY. We’ll see this the same season Kristin Chenoweth’s Broadway musical adaptation of DEATH BECOMES HER lands on Broadway, too. "

Brody, I heard Chenoweth was coming in with BETTY BOOP and SOAP that season

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 8:44pm

I feel like this is an Alice in Wonderland type thing where it's less plot based and more of a "vibe" which is hard to translate to another medium. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 5/20/22 at 12:10am

While I don’t really care for Gatsby, I would love another Wild Party scenario. 

[Fan123]

Posted: 5/20/22 at 3:50am

RippedMan said: "I feel like this is an Alice in Wonderland type thing where it's less plot based and more of a "vibe" which is hard to translate to another medium."

I'm not sure if this is the solution, but I did hear about a Great Gatsby-inspired immersive experience which opened in Sydney recently. Maybe something like that would better capture the 'vibe'.

https://explorehidden.com/event/details/the-great-gatsby-an-immersive-theatrical-production-sydney-1552090

[Owen22]

Posted: 5/20/22 at 5:02am

"Incidentally - I have nothing against Jay Armstrong Johnson, but he strikes me as more of a Nick than a Gatsby."

Jay has the proper, gorgeous, all American shine to him needed for Gatsby!

However, the female protagonist in the story has no inner life. Which is sort of a detriment to a musical theatre characterization...

 

[Mark_E]

Posted: 5/20/22 at 6:35am

We already had a Gatsby musical here in London too. I had a ticket but was cancelled last minute the day I was due to go due to cast illness.

https://www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/the-little/gatsby/

[OhHiii]

Posted: 5/20/22 at 6:44am

Florence’s Gatsby has the backing of Warner Bros Theatrical, so if I were a betting man, that would be the one to have legs for Bway. Regardless of if it’s good or not. See: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.