Fans of The Great Gatsby can catch a musical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s beloved novel during its upcoming Philadelphia premiere.
Frances Egler, vice president of theatrical programming and presentations for Ensemble Arts Philly, told Action News 6abc it is “a big Broadway extravaganza” with spectacular elements like fireworks and cars on stage.
The production runs from Oct. 20 to Nov. 1 at the Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. in Philadelphia.
The show centers on Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Tom Buchanan, focusing on Gatsby’s obsession with reclaiming Daisy from her wealthy husband, Tom Buchanan.
Husband and wife, Nathan Tysen and Kait Kerrigan, brought the production to Broadway through their writing.
“Adapting a piece of theater from a novel is really thrilling,” Kerrigan told 6abc. “You have this rich inner life of these characters, and you can kind of already see where some of the songs obviously should be.”
The production has won a Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical and is praised as a visually stunning adaptation that preserves the novel’s inner energy and themes.
Ensemble Arts Philly and the Shubert Organization co-present the production.