There are so many modern adaptations of novels, but one type of adaptation has recently gained popularity—the musical adaptation. The Great Gatsby is taking Broadway by storm in its new musical format. Other musical adaptations of novels have also gained more traction in more recent years; Matilda and The Notebook are just two other examples of novels that have become musicals.
The Great Gatsby, published in 1925 by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a quintessential American novel set during the “Roaring Twenties.” It details the life of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire who throws extravagant parties in hopes of winning back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. Through the eyes of narrator Nick Carraway, the reader witnesses the glittering yet hollow lives of the wealthy on Long Island. Themes of love, ambition, and the American Dream intertwine as Gatsby’s obsession with the past leads to tragedy.
For Gatsby fans, it was truly a dream come true when Broadway announced that The Great Gatsby would be made into a musical! The show premiered in March of 2024, and officially opened in April. The musical stars Jeremy Jordan (Newsies) as Jay Gatsby and Eva Noblezada (Hadestown) as Daisy Buchanan. It is directed by Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), choreographed by Dominique Kelley (So You Think You Can Dance), and produced by Chunsoo Shin, acclaimed Korean musical producer, 5-time winner of Korea’s most prestigious theatrical award and OD Company president. Entertainment Weekly described it as a “great, big Broadway extravaganza that explodes with life and energy,” and The New York Times called it “a lush, bewitching, and dazzling new musical.” The cast recently performed at the Tony Awards, and dazzled the crowd with the costuming, acting, and stellar jazz- and pop-influenced original score by Jason Howland (Little Women). If you want to listen to the full playlist, it is available for free on Spotify.
The Great Gatsby was not the only novel turned musical that came to life on Broadway this year. Also in March, The Notebook came to New York at the Gerald Schoenberg Theatre. The Chicago Tribune claimed it is “absolutely gorgeous, not the be missed,” and CBS News aptly reported that this musical “brings romance to broadway.” For romance lovers everywhere, this musical is truly spectacular, and has an equally spectacular production team—directors are Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (The Wiz, Aida), and music and lyrics are by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson.
Most famous for its movie adaptation with Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, The Notebook (1996) by Nicholas Sparks, follows the love story of Noah Calhoun and Allie Nelson, who fall deeply in love one summer in North Carolina during the early 1940s. Despite their passionate bond, social differences and World War II eventually tears them apart. Years later, Allie, now engaged to another man, rediscovers Noah through a notebook chronicling their love story. The novel explores themes of enduring love, fate, and the power of memories as Noah and Allie confront their feelings and the choices that shaped their lives.
A bit of an older musical, but equally as spectacular, is the musical Matilda. While it is no longer playing on Broadway, as the last performance was in January of 2017, and closed in London in May of this year, don’t be dismayed if you missed it because you can still see it on Netflix! It is written by Dennis Kelley with music by Tim Minchin, and directed by Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, The Norman Conquests, Boeing-Boeing, La Bête, Ghost). While still on Broadway, the musical won several awards—seven Olivier Awards, including Best Musical, and four Tony Awards. If that doesn’t convince you it’s worth a Netflix subscription, I don’t know what will!
The novel Matilda was published in 1988, and written by Roald Dahl who eloquently tells the story of a precocious young girl with extraordinary intelligence. Despite her neglectful and abusive parents, Matilda finds solace and inspiration in books, eventually discovering her powers. She forms a bond with her kind schoolteacher, Miss Honey, who helps Matilda navigate her challenging home life and encourages her academic talents. The novel culminates in a showdown with the tyrannical headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, where Matilda uses her wit to bring justice and happiness to herself and Miss Honey.
If you are a book lover, a music fan, or a broadway buff, these musical adaptations of classic novels will thrill you! Whether watching them on Netflix or taking a trip to NYC with friends, I highly recommend checking out at least one (if not all!) of these musicals!