American Psycho (musical)

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American Psycho: The Musical
American Psycho Musical.jpg
Original London Production Poster
Music Duncan Sheik
Lyrics Duncan Sheik
Book Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Basis American Psycho
by Bret Easton Ellis
Premiere 12 December 2013 (2013-12-12): Almeida Theatre
Productions 2013 London
2016 Broadway

American Psycho is a musical with music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik and a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. It is based on the controversial 1991 novel American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis,[1] which also inspired a 2000 film of the same name, which starred Christian Bale. Set in Manhattan during the Wall Street boom of the late 1980s, American Psycho is about the daily life of wealthy young investment banker Patrick Bateman.

The musical received its world premiere at London's Almeida Theatre in 2013, directed by Rupert Goold and starred Doctor Who actor Matt Smith. A Broadway production began preview performances on 24 March 2016, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, directed by Goold and starring Benjamin Walker as Patrick Bateman.

Background

The basis of the musical is the 1991 novel American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis.[2][3] In 2008, producers David Johnson, Jesse Singer, Nate Bolotin and Aaron Ray purchased the stage rights[4] and were developing a musical adaptation of the novel to appear on Broadway.[5] In 2010, it was revealed that the project had rounded out the key elements. Duncan Sheik, who won a Grammy and two Tony Awards, for writing the songs in the Broadway hit, Spring Awakening, and playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa had completed the first act.[6][7] A workshop took place in Manhattan in 2011, with Benjamin Walker playing the lead role of Patrick Bateman.[8] In April 2012, it was announced that London theatre company Headlong would stage the musical's world premiere[9] during their 2012-13 season.[10] At the same time a Kickstarter campaign was launched to raise $150,000,[11] to allow them to have a live orchestra and extend the rehearsal period for the production to seven weeks.[12]

Production history

American Psycho began previews on 3 December 2013,[13] at the Almeida Theatre, London,[14] before holding its official opening night on 12 December,[15] with booking initially until 25 January,[16] but later extended[17] by a week to 1 February 2014, when it closed.[18] The show has a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa[19] with music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik[20] and is directed by Rupert Goold,[21] with choreography by Lynne Page, set design by Es Devlin, lighting design by Jon Clark, costume design by Katrina Lindsay, video by Finn Ross, musical direction by David Shrubsole and sound by Paul Arditti.[22] Tickets for the world premiere production sold out.[23] Notable casting for the show included Matt Smith as Patrick Bateman, Susannah Fielding as Evelyn Williams, Jonathan Bailey as Tim Price, Ben Aldridge as Paul Owen and Lucie Jones as Victoria.[24][25] A typical London performance ran 2hrs 40mins, including one interval of 20 mins.[26]

Following its premiere production a workshop of the musical was held in January 2015 in New York City.[27] On 23 July 2015, it was announced that the musical would open on Broadway on 21 March 2016, following previews from 19 February at a yet unknown Shubert theater.[28] Lead casting will include Benjamin Walker in the lead role of Patrick Bateman [29] reprising his role from the 2011 workshop.[8] On 30 September 2015, it was announced that the musical would open at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, and would begin previews over a month later than originally planned,[30] on 24 March 2016.[31] On November 9, 2015, it was announced that Tony Award winner Alice Ripley will join the cast as Patrick Bateman's mother and Mrs. Wolfe, along with Tony Award nominee Jennifer Damiano as Jean, and Helene Yorke as Evelyn Williams. Damiano previously worked with Shiek in the original production of Spring Awakening on Broadway, as well as with co-starring opposite Ripley as Mother and Daughter in the original production of Next to Normal.

On 26 May 2016 it was announced that the Broadway production will close on 5 June 2016, after 27 previews and 54 regular performances.[32]

Musical numbers

Sheik's music features an original electronic score, with extracts from 1980s songs in-between.[33] The London cast album was released in March 2016.[34]

London

Broadway

Principal roles and cast members

Character Original London actor[25][37] Off Broadway lab actor[38] Original Broadway actor[39]
Patrick Bateman Matt Smith[40] Benjamin Walker
Paul Owen Ben Aldridge Roe Hartrampf Drew Moerlein
Vanden does not appear Krystina Alabado
Craig McDermott / ATM / Tom Cruise Charlie Anson Drew Gehling Alex Michael Stoll
Tim Price Jonathan Bailey Theo Stockman
Courtney Lawrence Katie Brayben Heléne Yorke Morgan Weed
Jean Cassandra Compton Jennifer Damiano
Sabrina / Video Store Clerk Holly Dale Spencer Angel Reda Ericka Hunter
Evelyn Williams Susannah Fielding Zosia Mamet Heléne Yorke
Detective Donald Kimball Simon Gregor Jeb Brown Keith Randolph Smith
Christine / Hardbody Waitress / Hardbody Trainer Holly James Sydney Morton Holly James
Victoria / Hardbody Bartender Lucie Jones Krystina Alabado Anna Eilinsfeld
Sean Bateman / Security Guard / Dorsia Host Tom Kay Nick Bailey Jason Hite
Patrick’s Mother / Mrs Wolfe / Svetlana Gillian Kirkpatrick Isabel Keating Alice Ripley
David Van Patten Eugene McCoy Wallace Smith Dave Thomas Brown
Luis Carruthers Hugh Skinner Wesley Taylor Jordan Dean

Critical reception

The London production of American Psycho received mixed to positive reviews from critics.[41][42]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result Ref
2016 Tony Award Best Scenic Design in a Musical Es Devlin and Finn Ross Pending [43]
Best Lighting Design of a Musical Justin Townsend Pending
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Benjamin Walker Pending [44]
Outstanding Director of a Musical Rupert Goold Pending
Outstanding Choreography Lynne Page Pending
Outstanding Set Design for a Musical Es Devlin Pending
Outstanding Costume Design Katrina Lindsay Pending
Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical Justin Townsend Pending
Outstanding Projection Design Finn Ross Pending
Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical Dan Moses Schreier Pending
Drama League Award Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical Pending [45]
Distinguished Performance Award Benjamin Walker Pending
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Broadway Musical Nominated [46][47]
Outstanding New Score (Broadway or off-Broadway) Duncan Sheik Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Musical Rupert Goold Nominated
Outstanding Actor in a Musical Benjamin Walker Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Hélene Yorke Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) Katrina Lindsay Nominated
Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) Justin Townsend Won
Outstanding Projection Design (Play or Musical) Finn Ross Won

References

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  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Hetrick, Adam; Gioia, Michael. "Broadway, Get Ready for a Bloodbath – 'American Psycho' Musical Targeting 2016", Playbill, 2 April 2015
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  32. ↑ Viagas, Robert. " 'American Psycho' Sets Broadway Closing", Playbill, 26 May 2016
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links

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