New Sara Bareillis musical THE INTERESTINGS to premiere at Berkeley in 2027; Michael Arden directing
New Sara Bareillis musical THE INTERESTINGS to premiere at Berkeley in 2027; Michael Arden directing
New Sara Bareillis musical THE INTERESTINGS to premiere at Berkeley in 2027; Michael Arden directing#1
Posted: 2/11/26 at 3:17pm
Book by Meg Wolitzer and Sarah Ruhl, based on Wolitzer's novel
The Interestings follows six friends who bond over their shared dream of leading creative lives. From their first meeting as teenagers at a summer camp in the 1970s to decades later in New York City, that bond remains, but so much else has changed. Tracing their lives as they grow together and apart, The Interestings explores friendship, love, envy, class, art, money, and power—and how all of it can shift and tilt precipitously over the course of a life.
New Sara Bareillis musical THE INTERESTINGS to premiere at Berkeley in 2027; Michael Arden directing#2
Posted: 2/11/26 at 3:27pm
I’m so bored, hire another person.
New Sara Bareillis musical THE INTERESTINGS to premiere at Berkeley in 2027; Michael Arden directing#3
Posted: 2/11/26 at 3:29pm
BroadwayNYC2 said: "I’m so bored, hire another person."
Rumor is he's already blown passed the budget and investors are asking for more $.
(I feel I must note that this is a joke, given Arden's history)
New Sara Bareillis musical THE INTERESTINGS to premiere at Berkeley in 2027; Michael Arden directing#4
Posted: 2/11/26 at 3:33pm
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?
New Sara Bareillis musical THE INTERESTINGS to premiere at Berkeley in 2027; Michael Arden directing#5
Posted: 2/11/26 at 3:36pm
I read somewhere in these forums not too long ago questioning whether or not Arden is as good at putting together new musicals as he is with revivals. Those are the exact sentiments with Diane Paulus, who helmed Bareilles' first musical, Waitress. While that show has its fans, it also has its share of detractors. It should be interesting (pun intended) to see how this one fares.
Updated On: 2/11/26 at 03:36 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
New Sara Bareillis musical THE INTERESTINGS to premiere at Berkeley in 2027; Michael Arden directing#6
Posted: 2/11/26 at 7:14pm
Loved the book. Love the song "Enough" that she performed. Very excited for this.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/30/17
New Sara Bareillis musical THE INTERESTINGS to premiere at Berkeley in 2027; Michael Arden directing#7
Posted: 2/11/26 at 10:07pm
Great book - and enjoy Bareiillis but the rest gives us big pause. The book writer and leadership do not seem right but rather "of the moment".
New Sara Bareilles musical at Berkeley Rep in 2027; Michael Arden directing#8
Posted: 2/11/26 at 11:03pm
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.
New Sara Bareilles musical at Berkeley Rep in 2027; Michael Arden directing#9
Posted: 2/11/26 at 11:31pm
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.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/1/23
New Sara Bareilles musical at Berkeley Rep in 2027; Michael Arden directing#10
Posted: 2/12/26 at 12:47am
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.
Broadway Star Joined: 5/7/03
New Sara Bareilles musical at Berkeley Rep in 2027; Michael Arden directing#11
Posted: 2/12/26 at 9:50am
Fantastic team! I think I'm going to have to take a trip for this one.
New Sara Bareilles musical at Berkeley Rep in 2027; Michael Arden directing#12
Posted: 2/12/26 at 10:16am
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.
New Sara Bareilles musical at Berkeley Rep in 2027; Michael Arden directing#13
Posted: 2/12/26 at 9:31pm
CoffeeBreak said: "Great book - and enjoy Bareiillis but the rest gives us big pause. The book writer and leadership do not seem right but rather "of the moment"."
I see it for Arden but I can’t imagine how Ruhl comes across as “of the moment.” I mean this with no offensive to a very great playwright but her last very notable work was Becky, Nurse of Salem which is nearly a decade old now. Her last Pulitzer nomination was nearly *two decades* ago. She’s not “of the moment” she’s just a well respected living writer.
New Sara Bareilles musical at Berkeley Rep in 2027; Michael Arden directing#14
Posted: 2/12/26 at 10:15pm
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?
New Sara Bareilles musical at Berkeley Rep in 2027; Michael Arden directing#15
Posted: 2/13/26 at 12:15am
"I understand, but it doesn't have to be that way."
How would it function otherwise?"
Insert that "It’s easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism" quote here.
Also, per Playbill, Meg Wolitzer, the original novelist, was joining Sarah Ruhl on book detail.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
New Sara Bareilles musical at Berkeley Rep in 2027; Michael Arden directing#16
Posted: 2/13/26 at 7:22pm
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/12/22
New Sara Bareilles musical at Berkeley Rep in 2027; Michael Arden directing#17
Posted: 2/17/26 at 8:40am
RippedMan said: "Loved the book. Love the song "Enough" that she performed. Very excited for this."
I love her music but "Enough" did nothing for me, maybe it will grow on me.
New Sara Bareillis musical THE INTERESTINGS to premiere at Berkeley in 2027; Michael Arden directing#18
Posted: 3/26/26 at 12:34pm
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 PMVideos
