Brush Up on Broadway: The Great Gatsby

Performers in sparkling blue costumes dance energetically on a brightly lit stage with an ornate, shimmering blue backdrop, as a central figure stands with arms raised, creating a lively theatrical scene.

The Cast of The North American Tour of The Great Gatsby. Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade..

Before the curtain rises, take a moment to brush up on The Great Gatsby — the glamour, the heartbreak, and the timeless story behind one of America’s most iconic novels, now reimagined for the Broadway stage.

From Novel to Broadway

A lively group of performers in colorful, vintage costumes gather around a roulette table on a theatrical stage, striking dramatic poses with joyful expressions.

The Cast of The North American Tour of The Great Gatsby. Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald was first published in 1925 and has since become one of the most celebrated novels in American literature. Although it is now considered a classic, the book was not an immediate success during Fitzgerald’s lifetime and sold relatively modestly upon release. Its reputation grew dramatically during and after World War II, when the novel was distributed to American servicemen overseas through the Armed Services Editions program, introducing Gatsby to an entirely new generation of readers. In the decades that followed, it became a staple of high school and college curricula, cementing its place in the American literary canon.

The musical adaptation opened on Broadway in April 2024 at the Broadway Theatre, starring Jeremy Jordan as Jay Gatsby and Eva Noblezada as Daisy Buchanan. The production features music and lyrics by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen, whose previous work includes the Broadway musical Paradise Square, with a book by Kait Kerrigan, known for her work on The Mad Ones and Justice.

The musical is directed by Marc Bruni, best known for directing the Broadway hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and features choreography by Dominique Kelley, whose movement blends contemporary storytelling with the glamour and energy of the Jazz Age.

Together, the creative team transforms Fitzgerald’s world of champagne-soaked parties and hidden heartbreak into a full-scale theatrical spectacle complete with a contemporary score, cinematic staging, and sweeping visuals inspired by the Roaring Twenties.

A Roaring Twenties Spectacle

One of the biggest creative challenges in adapting Gatsby for the stage was capturing the scale and glamour of the Jazz Age. The production leans heavily into bold visual storytelling with sweeping staircases, glittering costumes, dynamic projections, and lavish party scenes inspired by the excess of the 1920s.

As you watch, notice how lighting and scenic design help distinguish the worlds of East Egg, West Egg, and the Valley of Ashes. The production uses shifting color palettes and atmosphere to reflect both the beauty and emptiness hidden beneath Gatsby’s glamorous world.

Listen for the Storytelling in the Score

Unlike many traditional Golden Age musicals, The Great Gatsby blends contemporary pop influences with lush orchestrations inspired by jazz and big band music. The result is a score that feels modern while still evoking the energy and elegance of the Roaring Twenties.

Many songs expand on emotional moments only briefly touched on in the novel, giving characters like Daisy, Jordan, Myrtle, and Nick a stronger musical voice and perspective.

Three people dressed in vintage clothing sit in a bright blue classic convertible car, with two men in the front seats and a woman in the middle, against a blurred background.

The Cast of The North American Tour of The Great Gatsby. Joshua Grosso, Lila Coogan, Will Branner. Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade..

One recurring image throughout the show is the famous green light across the bay, a symbol of longing and impossible dreams that remains central to both the novel and the musical. As Gatsby asks, “Can you see the green light?”

Behind the Glamour

Fitzgerald’s original novel was inspired by the extravagant parties and wealth he observed while living on Long Island during the 1920s. Many scholars believe elements of Gatsby himself were drawn from real-life socialites and bootleggers of the era.

The musical also highlights themes that continue to resonate today, including wealth inequality, public image, ambition, and the tension between reinvention and authenticity. The show’s educational guide even encourages audiences to consider how conversations around fame, gender, and social status in Gatsby’s world still echo in modern culture.

A Story That Endures

Nearly 100 years after its publication, The Great Gatsby continues to captivate audiences because it balances spectacle with longing, romance with heartbreak, and glamour with deeper questions about the American Dream.

So settle in, enjoy the party, and step into one of literature’s most iconic worlds brought thrillingly to life onstage.