Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
‘The Great Gatsby’ dazzles London with Korean-led production
Jamie Muscato, left, as Jay Gatsby and Frances Mayli McCann as Daisy Buchanan in the "My Green Light" scene from "The Great Gatsby" at the London Coliseum. / Courtesy of OD Company
By Kwon Mee-yoo
LONDON — A dazzling Broadway success crossed the Atlantic, as the musical "The Great Gatsby" made its West End debut at the London Coliseum, Thursday.
Led by Korean producer Shin Chun-soo, the musical reimagines F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless tale of ambition, illusion and desire through a contemporary lens, set against the glittering backdrop of the 1920s jazz age. With Jamie Muscato as the enigmatic Jay Gatsby and Frances Mayli McCann as the luminous Daisy Buchanan, the production invites audiences into a world of opulence, longing and heartbreak.
Shin — the first Korean and Asian producer to lead a Broadway and West End production independently — described the opening night as “a night where a long-held dream finally came true, filled with mixed emotions of excitement and tension,” during a press conference at the Korean Cultural Center UK in central London, Friday.
“I hope West End audiences enjoy our show and take a moment to reflect on how we live,” he added.
A scene from "The Great Gatsby" at the London Coliseum / Courtesy of OD Company
Formidable cast
The West End production opened about a year after its Broadway debut in April 2024. While the show remains largely faithful to the original version, minor adjustments have been made to refine the production. The most notable difference, however, lies in the cast.
As producer Shin emphasizes, theater is ultimately the “art of actors.” It is the performers who breathe life into the production, shaping the experience for the audience. And thanks to the momentum gained from the Broadway success, the London production has attracted an exceptionally strong cast.
At the heart of this production is Muscato’s portrayal of Gatsby, a performance that strikes a delicate balance between earnest vulnerability and charismatic bravado. His rich voice proves to be a perfect match for Jason Howland’s sweeping power ballads, delivering each song with emotional depth and technical brilliance.
"When Jamie walked in the door, we all looked at each other and went, well, there's Gatsby," recalled director Marc Bruni.
For Muscato, the connection to the role was clear from the beginning.
"When I had my first auditions ... I knew that it was going to be a very special project," the actor said. "As I got to dive into the material more, I realized what an incredible role it was and just couldn't wait to bring it to life."
Muscato interprets that the essence of Gatsby lies in a restless hunger — a yearning that even unimaginable wealth and grandeur cannot satiate.
"Gatsby has to be someone that is always trying to get something but never quite reaches it," he explained. "Even if he is a millionaire, he has the huge mansion, he has the parties, but they don't satisfy him."
This restless pursuit shapes Muscato’s approach to the character every night on stage.
"To play someone that is constantly unsatisfied and constantly starving means that you can't rest on your laurels," he said. "You have to always be pushing towards something. No matter throughout this entire run, I will be pushing it as far as I can, because he won't stop."
A scene from "The Great Gatsby" at the London Coliseum / Courtesy of OD Company
McCann’s Daisy is ravishingly beautiful yet heartbreakingly hollow, as the actor delicately captures the character’s allure and deep-seated emptiness. Her character's quiet despair is convincingly brought to life, making Daisy more than just the object of Gatsby’s dreams.
A stellar ensemble of supporting actors further enriches the show’s dynamic energy. Among them, Rachel Tucker, celebrated for her portrayals of Elphaba in "Wicked," delivers a powerhouse performance as Myrtle Wilson, the brassy social climber entangled with Daisy’s husband Tom Buchanan. Her Act 2 showstopper, “One-Way Road,” underscores the destructive stakes of desire and the intoxicating pull of wealth and status.
Adding more force to the cast is John Owen-Jones, known for performances as Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables" and the Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera." As the shady bootlegger Meyer Wolfsheim, Owen-Jones commands the stage with his weighty presence, anchoring the story’s darker undertones and amplifying the tension.
Rounding out the cast are Corbin Bleu as the observant Nick Carraway, Amber Davies as the spirited Jordan Baker and Jon Robyns as the domineering Tom Buchanan.
Shin Chun-soo, producer of the musical "The Great Gatsby," attends the opening night of the show's West End production at the London Coliseum, Thursday. Courtesy of OD Company
‘K-vibe’ in Roaring 20s
Though "The Great Gatsby" has become a box office success, critical reception on both sides of the Atlantic has been notably harsh with critics questioning the transformation of an introspective masterpiece exploring the dark side of the American Dream into a flamboyant musical filled with big dance numbers.
“It’s difficult to satisfy all critics,” producer Shin said. “There can always be negative reviews. From a literary perspective, no adaptation of 'The Great Gatsby,' even the films, was universally praised. We believe we stayed true to our goal of faithfully translating the story into the language of the stage."
Shin admitted that harsh critiques can be painful to read, but he added, “You have to move past them. Ultimately, it is the love of the audience that completes a show and I believe we have achieved what we set out to do.”
Despite the mixed critical response, “The Great Gatsby” has clearly succeeded in winning audiences’ hearts. On Broadway, it joined the "$1 million club" for 20 consecutive weeks and the West End appears to be following a similar trajectory, with the show selling out during its previews at the London Coliseum, the largest theater in the West End with over 2,300 seats.
A major part of the show’s appeal lies in its spectacular visuals. Grand Art Deco sets — from Gatsby’s opulent mansion to Daisy’s elegant home, complete with two life-size vintage cars — amplify the sense of extravagant spectacle alongside Tony Award-winning costumes and exhilarating choreography, including a tap-dancing sequence.
A scene from "The Great Gatsby" at the London Coliseum / Courtesy of OD Company
Beyond these visuals, some audiences have noted a distinct yet familiar energy. Even though the producer behind "The Great Gatsby" is Korean, the creative team consists of Broadway and West End veterans, with no overtly Korean elements incorporated into the show.
However, the show exudes a certain "K-vibe,” particularly in the explosive solo numbers and high-energy ensemble choreography reminiscent of the aesthetics often seen in Korean musical theater. This may partly explain the show's broad international appeal, much like the global phenomenon of K-pop.
The London production runs as a limited engagement through Sept. 7, alongside an open-ended run on Broadway. A third, limited run is set to open in Seoul in July, bringing the show’s international journey full circle.
The upcoming Seoul production will be mounted with the same creative team, bringing the original vision directly to Korean audiences with a Korean-language version planned for 2027.
"Actors will be cast just for the Seoul production and they will rehearse in Korea," Shin said. "To have ‘The Great Gatsby’ playing in New York, London and Seoul simultaneously is something that may never happen again. Since this is a project I initiated, I felt it was essential to bring it home to Korea."