Gatz

Stage adaptation of The Great Gatsby

Gatz is a stage adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel The Great Gatsby by the Elevator Repair Service theater ensemble. The show was directed by John Collins.

The show consists of the entire text of the novel, read aloud by a company of actors. Its premise is that an office worker pulls a copy of Gatsby out of a drawer and begins reading it aloud. His coworkers gradually join in, and the people and office space transform into the characters and settings of the novel.[1]

## Production history

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Development on the show began in 1999, and it was first presented at the Collapsable Hole venue in Brooklyn in 2004 before transferring to the Performing Garage later that year. The show toured Europe, Sydney and Singapore from 2005 to 2009, and was mounted Off-Broadway at the Public Theater in 2010–11, where it won several awards.[2]

After its production at the Public Theater, Gatz was shown in Princeton and Los Angeles between 2011 and 2013; in Abu Dhabi in 2018–19; in Berkeley in 2019–20.[2] It is scheduled to be remounted for a "final encore" at the Public Theater in November 2024.[3]

## Original cast

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* Scott Shepherd as Nick
* Jim Fletcher as Jay
* Tory Vazquez as Daisy
* Robert Cucuzza as Tom
* Susie Sokol as Jordan
* Laurena Allan as Myrtle
* Annie McNamara as Catherine
* Ben Williams as Michaelis
* Vin Knight as Chester
* Ethan Lipton as Ewing
* Aaron Landsman as George
* Kate Scelsa as Lucille
* Ross Fletcher as Henry C. Gatz[4]

## Awards

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In Australia, the play received a Helpmann nomination for Best Play in 2009.[5] In Boston, the play received an Elliot Norton award for Outstanding Visiting Production and was nominated for Best Ensemble in 2010. In New York City in 2011, the play received a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Alternative Theater Experience; a Drama Desk nomination for Unique Theatrical Experience; and a Drama League nomination for Distinguished Production of a Play.[6] John Collins also received a Lucille Lortel Award for directing the play in 2011.[7]

## Reception

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Charles McGrath of the New York Times described the play "a dramatization of the act of reading" than a dramatization of The Great Gatsby.[1]

## References

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1. ^ a b McGrath, Charles (September 28, 2010). "Heard Any Good Books Lately, Zelda?". The New York Times. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
2. ^ a b "Performance History by Season". Elevator Repair Service. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
3. ^ "Gatz". The Public Theater. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
4. ^ "Gatz". Elevator Repair Service. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
5. ^ "Past nominees and winners". Helpmann Awards. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
6. ^ "Drama League Award Winners Announced". Broadway Musical Blog. May 21, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
7. ^ "Outstanding Director". Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved June 21, 2024.