The cast of The Great Gatsby on Broadway.
KAYLA WERTH / THE QUADRANGLE
Kayla Werth, Contributor
Broadway’s The Great Gatsby: The Musical, currently starring Ryan McCarten as Jay Gatsby and Sarah Hyland as Daisy Buchanan, is one of Broadway’s newest hit shows.
Last Saturday, I saw the matinee performance of the musical. I even took advantage of the student discount tickets available at the box office. With showing a valid student ID at the theatre’s box office the same day as the performance, you can purchase up to two tickets per person at $25.00 each.
Within the first steps into the theater lobby, it feels as if you have stepped into another generation. It is unbelievable how much the creative team thought of every single detail – from the old timey music playing in the lobby, to the decor around the theater, and the bar menu. Even the transition from the very last note of act one into intermission was exhilarating. Walking into the theater, the stage displays a bay with a green light within the distance and sounds of waves crashing and seagulls. I found my seat which was located in the second row of the orchestra with a partial view, where I waited in excitement for the show to begin. Soon after seating, the overture began, the lights dimmed, the horn of a boat blew and the performance began.
Noah J. Ricketts, who portrayed the role of Nick Carraway, took the stage to perform the opening number which gives a brief overview of the story the audience is about to watch unfold. There are multiple moments in this production where my jaw was on the floor of the theater. The special effects and lighting play a huge factor in this production. Within the first 30 minutes of the show there are sparklers, moving cars, bubbles and a handful of exhilarating effects all within one song, ‘New Money’. This scene continues to thicken the plot line for the first act, and throughout this number a majority of the charters are introduced and seen gathered at Jay Gatbys’s mansion in West Egg.
I honestly was a little skeptical of seeing both McCartan and Hyland step into the roles of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. After watching both individuals performance’s from the start of the show to to the very end, separately and together I can without a doubt say they were perfectly fit for these roles. McCarten blew the audience away with his performances. He even received a standing ovation in act two after his ballad, ‘Past Is Catching Up To Me”. His vocals were outstandingly clear and he added his own little touches to the performance that made it so unique. Hyland also gave several beautiful performances throughout the show. The emotions she brought to this role were very impressive. I think her background in both television and theater tied together quite well. During her final ballad, “Beautiful Little Fool”, the emotions she showed through her vocals and physical gestures felt real.
I had wanted to see the show this particular weekend as three of the original cast members would be leaving the company March 30, 2025. Alongside Ricketts, John Zdrojeski who played Tom Buchanan and Sarah Chase who performed as Myrtle Wilson were truly just enjoying their last moments performing this musical with the company throughout the duration of the show.
As the final song began, I didn’t want to think about the musical being over. There’s something soothing about being able to escape from reality and watching a story be told right in front of you. While leaving the theater, I overheard several conversations about how blown away attendees were by the performance and how they didn’t anticipate it to be as good as it was. This is definitely a show one can see even if they aren’t the biggest Broadway fan. I can positively say there is something for everyone to enjoy in this musical, whether it’s the dancing, music, or even the actors and actresses.