New Sara Bareillis musical THE INTERESTINGS to premiere at Berkeley in 2027; Michael Arden directing

From Playbill: 

"The Interestings could turn out to be Ruhl's first foray into musical theatre, though she previously adapted her Eurydice into a libretto for Matthew Aucoin's opera version of the work."

Already with the Face in the Crowd erasure. Also, Wonder at A.R.T. just happened, no?

Updated On: 2/11/26 at 03:33 PM

Loved the book. Love the song "Enough" that she performed. Very excited for this. 

All of you are welcome to complain or express reservations. The Interestings might be a disappointment. All I know, as a San Francisco-area theater person, is that getting a new Sara Bareilles musical  is a major coup for the Berkeley Rep. It will be the centerpiece of the season, a draw for season subscribers, and a source of some much-needed excitement about a new musical in the Bay Area. Rachel Chavkin has a new musical there this spring too. 

There aren’t new musicals for me to see on Broadway (almost). I might as well see them close to home.

Observation said: "I’m not saying Arden doesn’t deserve the work, I’m just saying there have got to be many other directors who would do a fantastic job and could use the opportunity. "

Theater is not about opportunities. It’s about which director won the last Tony or major hit at the box office. People forget it’s a business. I hear you, but his name gets investors interested next to hers. 

Ensemble1698878795 said: "Observation said: "I’m not saying Arden doesn’t deserve the work, I’m just saying there have got to be many other directors who would do a fantastic job and could use the opportunity. "

Theater is not about opportunities. It’s about which director won the last Tony or major hit at the box office. People forget it’s a business. I hear you, but his name gets investors interested next to hers."

I understand, but it doesn't have to be that way. 

Observation said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "Observation said: "I’m not saying Arden doesn’t deserve the work, I’m just saying there have got to be many other directors who would do a fantastic job and could use the opportunity. "

Theater is not about opportunities. It’s about which director won the last Tony or major hit at the box office. People forget it’s a business. I hear you, but his name gets investors interested next to hers."

I understand, but it doesn't have to be that way."

How would it function otherwise?

I think Ruhl, Bareilles, Arden... those names combined comes across as prestige theater. I'm curious to see how this all shapes up because I loved the book but I'm not quite sure I thought "musical," so I'm happy to see how this new version comes to life.

Just finished the book today… loved it, and hated leaving the characters behind. Am hopeful Bareilles and Arden can work some alchemy as I have zero idea how this could work as a musical (or play for that matter). The book spanning almost four decades would seem to be only one of the challenges. 

Updated On: 3/26/26 at 12:34 PM