GREAT (F.) SCOTT!
If you love literature, have fond memories of being read to or of reading to others, and feel, as so many do, that F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is in the Pantheon of Great American Novels, and you also have an appetite for ambitious or unusual theater projects and, in particular, immersive theater events, it’d be foolhardy to not run down to The Gatsby Mansion (870 Seventh Avenue) and savor every moment of Immersive Everywhere’s critically acclaimed production of The Great Gatsby.
Created and directed by Alexander Wright, the UK’s longest-running immersive production will make its American and New York debut on June 2 with Opening Night set for June 22, 2023 (tickets here). The party starts as soon as you arrive. The Gatsby Mansion at the Park Central Hotel New York space has been transformed into a new interactive theatrical venue. With its own private entrance on 55th Street and Seventh Avenue, visitors will enter immediately into Gatsby’s Mansion. A complete renovation covering over 16,000 square feet of the hotel ballroom space will deliver audiences into a fully immersive and enthralling world of music, dark stories and wonder from the world of Jay Gatsby.
Upon purchase of your ticket, you are invited to one of Jay Gatsby’s infamous parties. As invites go, this is the hottest ticket in town. A world of red-hot rhythms, bootleg liquor, and pure jazz age self-indulgence awaits. Spend the evening dancing, gossiping and clinking glasses with Nick Carraway, Daisy and Tom Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, and the perfect host, Mr. Jay Gatsby himself. The champagne flows and the drama unfolds. Dress to the nines and join this heart racing, immersive theatrical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic tale direct from London after 7 years of sold-out performances. Welcome back to the roaring twenties!
“Immersive” means that the environment is designed to deliver an all-encompassing experience; from the moment you enter Gatsby’s Mansion, you will feel like you have been transported back to the roaring 1920’s. You may have the unique chance to meet Mr. Gatsby in his exclusive bar. You may have the opportunity to follow the other guests into smaller rooms and spaces, with Mr. Gatsby himself, if you are so lucky! You need only interact as much as you are comfortable to – if you prefer to observe from the side-lines, please do. In fact, Mr. Gatsby often enjoys doing exactly that himself! 1920s dress code is encouraged but not compulsory.
First conceived in 2015 when director Alexander Wright and producer Brian Hook were running The Fleeting Arms – a pop arts and community pub in an abandoned building in York, England, The Great Gatsby then ran in York in 2016 with a parallel production in Sheffield in partnership with Theatre Deli. The production first came to London as part of VAULT Festival in 2017, eventually transferring to Immersive|LDN in Mayfair. The production has played in Dublin, Brussels and Seoul and has several other international productions in the pipeline including China and Singapore.
In addition to Alexander Wright, the creative and design team also includes Holly Beasley-Garrigan (Choreographer), Casey Jay Andrews (Sets), Shoko Kambara (US Art Director), Jeff Croiter (Lights), Paul Grainger (UK Sounds), Peter Fitzgerald (US Sound), Vanessa Leuck (Costumes), Tom Schall (Fight Director), and Claire McKenzie (Music Director).
Photos of previous productions: Mark Senior, Helen Maybanks, Sam Taylor.
CAST BIOGRAPHIES:
Joel Acosta (Jay Gatsby). Cuban, Miami native. Off-Broadway: Aloha Boricua. Additional Theatre: Isaac’s Eye, Late Fame (Collaboratively devised), Richard II (Shakespeare’s Globe), Henry IV Parts 1+2. Television: “FBI: Most Wanted,” “The Food That Built America.” Film: Duo, Laconic, Funny Business. Education: BFA in acting, Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of The Arts. @joelacostagram #patriayvida
Rob Brinkmann (Nick Carraway) is honored to be a part of bringing this historic novel to life. Featured Credits: STOMP (NYC), Oklahoma (Jud Fry — Berkie Award Best Supporting Actor in a Musical), Cabaret (Cliff), Peter and the Starcatcher (Black Stache), Acoustica Electronica (Leonard) and various immersive works with Touch Performance Art. When not on stage, Rob can be found in the booth narrating audiobooks. @ReadbyRob
Jillian Anne Abaya (Daisy Buchanan) is a Filipino-American from San Francisco. She Graduated from NYU Tisch Spring 2022 and four months later booked Immersive Gatsby. Her recent works include the seven-part mini-series “Asleep, Awake” and the short film, “Cycle”, both to be released later this year.
Shahzeb Hussain (Tom Buchanan) was born in Pakistan and grew up in England and the States. He began breakdancing at a very young age which led him towards performing. Most recently he’s been seen as Deputy John Curry in Tammany Hall and now is honored to be a part The Great Gatsby.
Stephanie Rocío (Jordan Baker). Theatre credits include Hurts to Hate You A Little (The Wild Project), The Sarah Play (14th St Y Theater), The Love of Three Oranges (Ensemble Studio Theatre), In the Boys’ Club (Laurie Beechman Theatre), Dreamgirls (Cape Fear Regional Theatre). TV: “Harlem,” “Fleishman is in Trouble,” “Blue Bloods,” “FBI,” “God Friended Me,” and “The Enemy Within.” Brooklyn native. BA from Yale University.
Keivon Akbari (George Wilson). Off-Broadway, New York: Atlantic Theatre Company MixFest: Tosca Tehran (Navid). Peydah Theatre Company / Rattlestick Theatre: Untitled (Performer/Co-Creator). Regional: MacGyver the Musical (Siggi). NYU: Atlantic Acting School: Medea (Jason). The Elephant Man (John Merrick). The Wild Project: Bismillah (Nima/Mohammad). Manhattan Repertory Theater: Rumble in the Garden (Daniel). Film: Tehrangeles (Nima) – Hollyshorts Official Selection. BFA: NYU Tisch School of the Arts. @keivonakbari. Zan, Zendegi, Azadi.
Claire Saunders (Myrtle Wilson). Select Off-Bway & Regional: The Rat Trap (Ruby), Importance of Being Earnest (Cecily), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Betty), School Girls; or the African… (Ericka), The Wolves (#8), In the Heights (Vanessa); TV/Film: “OTK” (Disney), “Modern Love” (Amazon), “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC), “Tell Me a Story” (CBS), “The Good Cop” (Netflix), Wild Eyed & Wicked (The Old Way Movie), The Intern (Warner Bros), 18 1/2 (Waterbug Eater Films), CitiBank Commercial. CMU Graduate.
Mya Rosado-Tran (Charlie McKee) is over the moon happy to be making her Off-Broadway debut in The Great Gatsby! Mya’s a proud alumni of Fiorello LaGuardia High School for drama & just finished her 2nd year of training at NYU Tisch with the Atlantic Acting School. She’s a lover of Shakespeare, her silk wardrobe, solo dance parties, & strictly wearing green shoes every day. Mya owes the entirety of her artistic (& real) life to mom, dad, and to the leaves!
Nicholas Caycedo (Joey). New York: Good Morning New York (Player’s Theatre); La Mama Cantata (La MaMa). Regional: Kiss My Aztec (Hartford Stage), America In One Room (Florida Studio Theatre), The Realness (Hangar Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Creede Rep), In The Heights (Seacoast Rep), I Become A Guitar (Kitchen Theatre), The Christians (MACo). Training: Ithaca College, Walnut Hill School. Nicholas is a native Vermonter.
Kiki Burns (Lucille) Favorite credits include Elle in Legally Blonde (CDA Summer Theatre), Jo in Little Women (Sacramento Theatre Company), and Sweeney Todd and Cabaret at Elon University. @kiki.burns
Anika Braganza (Gilda) is thrilled to be making her Off-Broadway debut in The Great Gatsby. Anika is a graduate of NYU Steinhardt. She is also a singer-songwriter who performs with her sisters in their singing group: The Braganza Sisters. @thebraganzasisters
Charlie Marcus (Meyer Wolfsheim) is no stranger to larger-than-life Mob Bosses coming to Gatsby by way of Don Del Canto in the original Off-Broadway cast of Romeo and Bernadette and as Sonny in the Original Cast of Broadway’s A Bronx Tale. His Broadway career began in the original company of A Chorus Line as Al DeLuca, and Charlie has been heralded for his star-turn in Broadway’s Peter Pan (opposite Cathy Rigby) as Third Drunken Buccaneer From The Left. He’s the proudest proudest proudest father of two incredible and pesky children, Taylor and Jillian, and dedicates this performance to his mother who still comes to every opening night and informs the audience (multiple times, at full volume, in tears) “that’s my son!”
Jeremiah Ginn (Owl Eyes). NYC: Murder for Two, Anything Goes (Billy). Tour: Anastasia 1st National (u/s Vlad), Murder for Two (The Suspects), A Chorus Line (Zach). Regional: Catch Me If You Can (Arena Stage), Holiday Inn (World Premiere, Goodspeed / The Muny), Bye Bye Birdie (Goodspeed), My Fair Lady (Gulf Shore Playhouse), Joseph…Dreamcoat (Rueben, Stages St. Louis), 9 to 5 (NSMT), Film: Hello Again. BFA Brigham Young University. Proud uncle to four nieces (who are way cuter than yours). @jeremiahmginn
Stephanie Cha (Kitty Klipspringer) Regional: Mr. Holland’s Opus (Ensemble/Gertrude u/s, Ogunquit Playhouse). NYC: Chasing Andy Warhol (Doctor/Great Jones Dancer, Bated Breath Theatre Company). Film: Piano Practice (Lead), Detective Kiwi (Lead). BFA, NYU. @cha.stephanie9
