This is the actor-musician version of the Fitzgerald story, where the cast plays the score on stage and the whole conceit is carried by folk instruments rather than machinery. The Public's Newman is intimate enough that the trick lands as craft rather than spectacle. If Broadway prices are wearing you down, this is the downtown alternative with real craft behind it.
What to expect
An off-Broadway musical in the Public's Newman Theater, the mid-sized of its five stages, played by a company that sings and accompanies itself on stage. The building also holds Joe's Pub and a bar, which makes it an easy full-evening plan on Lafayette Street.
Good to know
- Astor Place (6) and 8 St-NYU (R W) are both a block or two from 425 Lafayette St.
- The Public runs a Public Access ticket programme; check availability before paying full price
- Older children upward; the story is wistful rather than frightening
- Joe's Pub and the lobby bar are in the same building for a pre- or post-show drink
- The Newman is a mid-sized proscenium house, so sound and detail carry from any seat
- The Public's building is accessible; arrange seating and assistive devices via the box office
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Common questions
Is it based on the film?
It is drawn from the F. Scott Fitzgerald story, in Jethro Compton's own adaptation.
How long does it run?
Previews from October 8, opening October 21, closing November 15, 2026.
Which stage?
The Newman Theater inside the Public Theater at 425 Lafayette St.
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