Mirvish presents a big, bold, Broadway version of The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is a name that practically sells itself. First a beloved 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald with over 30 million copies sold, then a 2013 Baz Luhrmann feature film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and now a dazzling musical touring across North America after a successful run on Broadway.

The tour has set up shop in Toronto, playing at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre until September 6. I was fortunate to be present for opening night this past week, and what a treat of a show!

For those who are unfamiliar (and I was not a Gatsby expert beforehand), the story is set in the roaring 20s and follows the eccentric and mysterious Jay Gatsby (played by Jake David Smith, in beautiful voice), a main who gained wealth after the war and will stop at nothing in pursuit of his lost love, Daisy Buchanan (played by Senzel Ahmady, who previously played the role in Seoul). Rounding out the primary supporting cast are Joshua Grosso as Nick Carraway, Daisy’s cousin who has returned from the war seeking a fresh start and Leanne Robinson as Jordan Baker, Daisy’s best friend and a professional golfer not keen to give up her independence. Both actors truly stole the show, Grosso with his comedic chops and Baker with her confident vocals and dance moves.

In addition to the fantastic talent on display, audience members are treated to a visual feast. In keeping with the setting, the Tony Award-winning costumes sparkle (and several audience members showed up in their own flapper costumes to match!), and the Tony-nominated set was also quite impressive, with so many moving pieces, vivacious colours, and an ocean backdrop that truly moves.

Even the estate of F. Scott Fitzgerald has chimed in, with a message printed in every Playbill: “This production is a big, bold, Broadway version of The Great Gatsby. It’s thrilling to see these indelible characters and iconic moments from the novel come to life on stage.  This stage production, which honors the novel and its history while also speaking clearly to today’s audiences, is a terrific new iteration of this classic work.”   

The Great Gatsby features music & lyrics by Tony Award nominees Jason Howland (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Little Women) and Nathan Tysen (Paradise Square), a book by Jonathan Larson Grant winner Kait Kerrigan (The Mad Ones), and is staged by award-winning director Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and choreographer Dominique Kelley (“Mariah’s Magical Christmas Special”, “Dancing with the Stars”).

The Broadway production opened on Thursday, April 25, 2024 and continues to thrill audiences and break box office records. The show also made its West End debut at the London Coliseum, playing a limited engagement in the summer of 2025.  

I highly recommend making the trip out to see the show, whether it be here in Toronto or in a city near you as they continue their tour.

Mirvish offers wheelchair-accessible, special access and size-accommodating seating options in all of its theatres. All venues are equipped with private barrier-free washroom facilities. An adult changing table is available upon request when booked in advance. Guests are welcome to bring their own personal assistive devices; devices such as walkers can be stored safely outside the auditorium during the performance. A limited number of courtesy wheelchairs are also available on site.

The theatres are equipped with Sennheiser assisted listening systems. These devices come in two styles: the induction loop (used in combination with hearing aids that have telecoil or T-switch capability) and the stethoset (a U-shaped receiver with earbuds that fit directly in the ear). Devices are available to borrow, free of charge. Quantities are limited. Reservations can be made up to 48 hours in advance of your performance, and devices will otherwise be available on a first-come, first-served basis. To make a reservation, contact assistedlistening@mirvish.com. When picking up the device at the theatre, patrons will be required to leave either a piece of Photo ID or a Mirvish subscriber card.

Mirvish Productions also offers the GalaPro system. This innovative technology delivers real-time closed captioning and audio description directly to your personal mobile device via the GalaPro app, no matter where you sit in the theatre. It is available free of charge to all patrons with the GalaPro app.  

Service and support animals are welcome in the venues.  Patrons are asked to advise the box office or audience sales representative when ordering your ticket to ensure suitable seating is reserved.