The Great Gatsby Musical: Reviews, Cast, Tickets & Guide

The Great Gatsby musical delivers star-studded Broadway spectacle with a blend of Jeremy Jordan and Reeve Carney as Gatsby, lavish Jazz Age production values, and critical praise calling it “a great, big Broadway extravaganza that explodes with life and energy” (Entertainment Weekly). Whether you’re coming for the cast or simply a lavish night out, here’s what you need to know before buying tickets.

Premiere Year: 2024 · Music & Lyrics: Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen · Book: Kait Kerrigan · Lead Actor: Jeremy Jordan (original) · Based On: 1925 F. Scott Fitzgerald novel

The table below consolidates key production details from official sources and verified outlets.

Is The Great Gatsby musical worth seeing?

For theatergoers deciding whether to splurge on tickets, the answer depends on what you’re after. If you want a visually stunning, high-energy Broadway spectacle with strong vocal performances, critics and audiences largely agree this delivers. Entertainment Weekly described the production as “a great, big Broadway extravaganza that explodes with life and energy” (Official Broadway Site), while The New York Times called the Paper Mill run “lush, bewitching, and dazzling” (TodayTix).

Audience reactions

Audience feedback on Broadway.com praises the cast vocals, set design, and costumes (Broadway.com). The opening number, which “evokes Jazz Age music with crazed verve,” sets the tone for what reviewers describe as a lavish, showstopping experience (Exeunt NYC).

Critical reviews

Critics note the production as a “grand, crowd-pleasing spectacle,” though some observe it leans toward broadness rather than subtlety (BroadwayWorld Forum). The music draws comparisons to Paradise Square—jazz- and pop-influenced with an emphasis on spectacle (New York Theater).

Pros and cons

The implication: if you’re seeking faithful literary adaptation, you may leave wanting more. But for a night of Broadway entertainment that honors the novel’s atmosphere, the production delivers.

What is Great Gatsby the musical about?

The musical adapts F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel, bringing the story of Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Nick Carraway to the stage with a Jazz Age aesthetic. Directed by Marc Bruni with choreography by Dominique Kelley, the book by Kait Kerrigan and songs by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen aim to capture the novel’s themes of love, longing, and the hollowness of wealth (TodayTix).

Plot summary

The story follows mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby’s pursuit of his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, through the lens of narrator Nick Carraway. The production emphasizes Gatsby’s backstory, reportedly incorporating themes of PTSD from World War I that shape his obsessive drive (Exeunt NYC).

Key themes

• The American Dream and its corruption by wealth
• Love and obsession across class lines
• The Jazz Age as both glamorous and hollow
• Memory versus reality

Differences from the novel

As a stage adaptation, the musical condenses and interprets Fitzgerald’s prose. Reviewers note the production leans into spectacle—the parties are bigger, the emotions more heightened, and the ending more explicitly staged than the novel’s quiet final pages.

Is Jeremy Jordan in The Great Gatsby?

Jeremy Jordan originated the role of Jay Gatsby when the production opened on Broadway. His casting was a major draw, with the actor bringing his Broadway pedigree from productions like Newsies to the role (Playbill). His departure was announced, with Reeve Carney taking over the role of Gatsby (NY Theatre Guide).

Full cast highlights

The ensemble pulls talent from other major Broadway productions including MJ, Frozen, Mean Girls, and Shucked (Playbill). Corbin Bleu joined as Nick Carraway in the later cast, bringing his own credentials from Hollywood and stage productions.

Key performers

• Jeremy Jordan as Jay Gatsby (original) – celebrated for his vocal power and Broadway following
• Eva Noblezada as Daisy Buchanan (original and later) – Tony-nominated actress
• Reeve Carney as Jay Gatsby (replacement) – Grammy winner with West End experience in Cabaret and Hadestown (Official Broadway Site)
• John Zdrojeski as Tom Buchanan – noted by critics as a standout performance (New York Theater)

Creative team

The creative pedigree below shows the experienced team behind the production.

What this means: the creative pedigree is solid, with Bruni directing a production that prioritizes entertainment value, and the choreography under Kelley adding visual energy to the Jazz Age setting.

What to wear to see The Great Gatsby musical?

Broadway doesn’t enforce a strict dress code, but opening nights and Saturday evening shows tend to draw more formally dressed audiences. For The Great Gatsby specifically, some theatergoers embrace the theme with flapper-inspired accessories or 1920s-inspired formal wear.

Broadway dress code

The general Broadway standard leans toward smart casual to business formal. Jeans are generally acceptable for evening shows if they’re clean and paired with a dressier top. Many attendees opt for “date night” attire—something you’d wear to a nice dinner.

Themed outfit ideas

• For women: beaded flapper dress, sequined cocktail dress, or elegant 1920s-inspired separates
• For men: classic tuxedo or dark suit with period-inspired accessories like a pocket watch
• Accessories: feathered headbands, long pearls, suspenders, wingtip shoes

Venue tips

The Broadway Theatre is located in the heart of Times Square. Arrive early to account for security lines, and consider pre-theater dining nearby. Student discounts are available—$25 tickets with valid ID at the box office, up to two per person (The Quadrangle).

The Great Gatsby musical review

The critical consensus tilts positive on entertainment value while noting the production prioritizes spectacle over depth. If you’re wondering whether the show is worth the ticket price, the evidence suggests most audience members leave satisfied.

Recent critic scores

While aggregate scores aren’t published formally, the tenor of reviews leans favorable. The New York Times praised the Paper Mill run as “lush, bewitching, and dazzling,” and Entertainment Weekly’s “great, big Broadway extravaganza” assessment remains the production’s most quoted endorsement.

Audience feedback

Tripadvisor reviewers consistently describe the show as “entertaining from beginning to end” with particular praise for the set design and vocal performances. Broadway.com reviews highlight the cast’s vocals, the set, and costumes with positive remarks.

Ticket value

Tickets start at $64.29 for performances like the one scheduled for April 22, 2026 at Broadway Theatre (Broadway.com). Official ticket sources include Ticketmaster and TodayTix with verified box office guarantees.

Summary

The Great Gatsby musical has found its audience on Broadway, delivering the Jazz Age spectacle that Fitzgerald’s novel inspires. With strong original casting and a production that prioritizes visual and musical impact, the show succeeds as Broadway entertainment even if it diverges from the novel’s more subtle ironies. For theatergoers in New York or London, the question isn’t whether the production is good—critics and audiences largely agree it is—but whether a night of Gatsby glamour is what you’re looking for. Jeremy Jordan’s original performance and Reeve Carney’s subsequent turn as Gatsby both demonstrate the production’s ability to draw Broadway talent worth seeing.

Related reading: Matilda the Musical cast

Starring Jeremy Jordan on Broadway, the musical has electrified London audiences at the Coliseum, where the Broadway and London guide covers tickets, casts and runs across both cities.

Frequently asked questions