The Avett Brothers’ SWEPT AWAY musical at Arena Stage

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 6/23/23 at 10:42am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/John-Gallagher-Jr-Stark-Sands-Adrian-Blake-Enscoe-Wayne-Duvall-to-Star-in-SWEPT-AWAY-at-Arena-Stage-20230623

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has revealed the principal cast for its fall/winter 2023 production of Swept Away. Reuniting from the 2022 Berkeley Repertory Theatre world premiere and making their Arena Stage debuts, Swept Away will star Tony Award® winner John Gallagher, Jr. (Spring Awakening), Tony Award® nominee Stark Sands (Kinky Boots), Adrian Blake Enscoe (Dickinson), and Wayne Duvall (O Brother, Where Art Thou?).

Written by Tony Award® winner John Logan (Red, Moulin Rouge! The Musical), directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, American Idiot), with music and lyrics by "America's Biggest Roots Band" (Rolling Stone) The Avett Brothers, Swept Away will run November 25 – December 30, 2023, in the Kreeger Theater. 

Berkeley Rep reviews and discussion thread: https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1127332

Updated On: 9/7/23 at 10:42 AM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/23/23 at 12:10pm

What an incredibly special show, so glad it's coming East. Tight turn around of just a few weeks for Stark after he leaves &Juliet presuming he has a year contract. 

[inception]

Posted: 6/23/23 at 1:04pm

When I see the title it makes me think it is an adaptation of the Madonna film

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/23/23 at 3:08pm

JGJ had been popping up 9n my mind a lot lately ...so happy to see this still has some life!

[Robbie2]

Posted: 6/23/23 at 9:01pm

Michael Mayer could have 2 shows land on Broadway this season, SA and Chess!

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 6/24/23 at 2:29pm

Am anxious to see this, but from what I read from most post’ers during its CA runs, sounds as if it may be better suited to an Off Broadway run.

Guess that all depends on the creatives, producers and investors!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/7/23 at 6:14pm

Set in 1888, Swept Away follows four survivors—a young man in search of adventure (Enscoe), his big brother who has sworn to protect him (Sands), a captain at the end of a long career at sea (Duvall), and a worldly first mate who has fallen from grace (Gallagher)—after a violent storm sinks their whaling ship off the coast of New Bedford, Massachusetts. How far will they go to stay alive? And can they live with the consequences? Described as “reverberating all the way into your core” (San Francisco Chronicle), this electrifying, soul-stirring musical explores how facing tragedy can open the door to forgiveness, if only we’ll let it.

“We’re thankful to the many talented artists who’ve been a part of this show’s life since our world premiere at Berkeley Rep,” said Scott Avettof The Avett Brothers, “and we’re thrilled to welcome new shipmates for the D.C. leg of our voyage.”

Joining Duvall, Enscoe, Gallagher, and Sands onstage is a talented ensemble comprised of Hunter Brown (The Sound of Music National Tour), Matt DeAngelis (Broadway’s Waitress), Taurean Everett (Broadway’s Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Cameron Johnson (Broadway’s Into the Woods), Brandon Kalm (Broadway’s Waitress), Michael Mainwaring (Arena’s Smokey Joe's Café, Orville Mendoza (Broadway’s Peter and the Starcatcher), Tyrone L. Robinson (Broadway’s Frozen), John Sygar (Kennedy Center’s Look Both Ways), and Jamari Johnson Williams (Broadway’s Ain’t Too Proud).

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Full-Cast-Creative-Team-Set-for-The-Avett-Brothers-SWEPT-AWAY-at-Arena-Stage-20230907

Updated On: 9/7/23 at 06:14 PM

[BroadwaysBroad]

Posted: 9/7/23 at 6:21pm

What other musicals have Avett brothers written?

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/25/23 at 1:31pm

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/25/23 at 2:21pm

Their entire collection of merch is just stunning. The Avett Brothers are incredibly talented and I hope this show comes to Broadway. 

Merch

Updated On: 9/25/23 at 02:21 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/25/23 at 2:54pm

I think this could prove to be an awards darling. Great merch/poster art. Could see this popping into Circle for a spring opening if all things are good in DC.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/25/23 at 3:14pm

That's really striking artwork.

Are they aiming for Spring 2024?

[Voter]

Posted: 9/25/23 at 3:21pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "That's really striking artwork.

Are they aiming for Spring 2024?"

yes

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 9/25/23 at 3:41pm

"Their entire collection of merch is just stunning. The Avett Brothers are incredibly talented and I hope this show comes to Broadway. "

I love their music and agree with you 100%.

[bear88]

Posted: 9/25/23 at 10:19pm

RippedMan said: "I think this could prove to be an awards darling. Great merch/poster art. Could see this popping into Circle for a spring opening if all things are good in DC."

Unless the staging, which features an interesting moment in the show, is changed, it’s not a Circle in the Square candidate.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/26/23 at 7:14am

The run in Cali seemed perfect for it given the size of the stage and the seating. But maybe it’s better for like the Nederlander. 

[Voter]

Posted: 9/26/23 at 10:16am

RippedMan said: "The run in Cali seemed perfect for it given the size of the stage and the seating. But maybe it’s better for like the Nederlander."

Could this realistically run at the Golden? Or the Booth?

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 9/26/23 at 10:57am

I'll be seeing this during the DC run and am looking forward to it. Will report back. I know very little about the show besides the synopsis on Arena's website.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/26/23 at 2:40pm

There was a picture from the Berkeley run that would make it a perfect fit at the circle but maybe things have changed in  DC.

[schubox]

Posted: 11/15/23 at 12:32pm

bear88 said: "RippedMan said: "I think this could prove to be an awards darling. Great merch/poster art. Could see this popping into Circle for a spring opening if all things are good in DC."

Unless the staging, which features an interesting moment in the show, is changed, it’s not a Circle in the Square candidate."

Yeah was a great moment, not sure how they'd do that on Broadway, sure they'll think of something.

This is starting next week, are there any credible rumors it will transfer? I assume that's the goal

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 9:41am

I’m hoping this finds a good-sized off Broadway venue to settle into.  Very much hoping we get it this season. I suspect they won’t address any future plans until the DC production opens (or maybe not until after it closes).

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 11/25/23 at 8:00pm

Performances at Arena Stage begin tonight. 
Happy first performance to everyone involved! 
Looking forward to hearing reports from anyone attending this run. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 11/26/23 at 12:24am

Last I heard this is still aiming for the Spring but they are waiting for the Booth to become available...

[katiekat]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 9:20pm

OuttaTowner said: "Performances at Arena Stage begin tonight.
Happy first performance to everyone involved!
Looking forward to hearing reports from anyone attending this run."

Just saw Sunday’s matinee and overall was really impressed with this production. I’ve been a fan of the Avett Brothers for the last 10 years and the cast and creative team are a dream, so it was kind of a relief to enjoy the show as much as I did having big expectations on the talent and material but not knowing what to really expect. This is definitely a show you want to go in blind to,  the surprises I experienced throughout were absolute highlights. The music arrangements were gorgeous and felt equally familiar and refreshed, and the way the songs and dialogue fit didn’t feel too forced as a jukebox musical sometimes does. I’m hoping there’s a cast album in the future! Plus this cast- the core four are fantastic, the larger ensemble/staging was excellent.

I don’t want to give too much away off the bat but am happy to elaborate more and gush and compare notes with other folks who go! I’m going again at least once more closing weekend and am looking forward to watching a bit more critically next time. I’ll be mulling over yesterday’s performance quite a bit in the meantime!

[Kitsune]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 11:45pm

I saw Swept Away at Berkeley Rep and really loved it.

For anyone who has seen the DC version, what's the song list? (And if anyone has seen both, I'd love to hear about the differences!)