Unlike most American teenagers assigned F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” in high school, Ryan McCartan wasn’t nearly as fascinated by the dazzle-infused parties and Jazz Age romance as he was with the socio-economic angle. Written at a time when self-made individuals were elbowing their way into polite society, Fitzgerald’s aim was to create a farce about the American Dream.
Photo: Nina Westervelt.
“What I found both fascinating and poignant about the book, was the class breakdown and how much Gatsby longed to be accepted,” says the 30-something actor, who stepped into the title character’s spectator wingtips this past January. And as it happens, McCartan’s arrival in the blockbuster musical was timely, coinciding with the launch of the novel’s Centennial Celebration.
Having already appeared twice on Broadway as the romantic interest of leading female characters (Fiyero in Wicked and Hans in Frozen), McCartan found the prospect of being “the guy the show was about” amazing—and, initially, intimidating. He wondered whether he could handle the challenge of a) following Jeremy Jordan’s original take on the role, and b) the weight of carrying the lead eight shows a week.
“A lot of people were in my corner,” he says. While still somewhat on the fence he saw the show “to get a vibe check…a gut check.” Watching from the audience proved a game changer. “I can sing these songs…I want to do this…I have to do this,” he told his partner. The clincher, though, came from the creative team who assured him this was in no way cookie-cutter theatre: he could do the role his way, whatever that entailed.
“They looked at the artist in front of them and asked ‘How do we make this work for you?’, which is such an admirable way to make art. There is only one Jeremy and he’s amazing, but I didn’t want to get stuck in filling his shoes; I wanted my own pair of shoes,” he says. In this way Gatsby—from stance to voice to emotional core—is 100% McCartan. His is a raw and authentic performance, one that allows Fitzgerald’s 1920s literary genius to live and breathe within a truly extraordinary 21st-century production.
TIMELESS GLAMOUR
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Photo: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman.
According to McCartan, the musical mirrors the sophistication of the novel by zeroing in on parties, passion, and heartbreak. “Everything in this world is glamorous, enticing, glitzy, sexy, and tragic,” he says, praising Kait Kerrigan’s meticulous script. “It’s so well written the dialogue genuinely feels like the book.”
Meanwhile, the score by Jason Howland (music) and Nathan Tysen (lyrics) sizzles from the first chords of the opening number, “Roaring On.” Here, the floodgates of decadence are thrown open to a wild Art Deco bacchanalia filled with sensualists and sycophants anxious to hobnob with their host, the mythic Jay Gatsby, who, aside from a fleeting prologue-esque appearance, doesn’t materialize for several scenes. For an actor like McCartan, this time lapse allows him to get into character. “The ritualistic side of me is technical—making sure I get a good warmup in…preparing physically and vocally,” he says. “Still, artistically the Tony-winning costumes [by Linda Cho] are magical. You put on those perfectly tailored three-piece suits and you stand taller, you move differently. It’s transformative.”
ON-STAGE SPARKS
Photo: Nina Westervelt.
The heart of the story and the one thing that drives Gatsby is his desire for Daisy Buchanan, the enchantress who’s haunted him for years and whom he is determined to win back—whatever the cost. Playing Gatsby’s holy grail is a challenge, but one well-suited to Sarah Hyland (Modern Family; Little Shop of Horrors), who recently stepped into the role originated by Eva Noblezada.
“I knew of Sarah before we started rehearsals, and while I hadn’t met her before, our artistic collaboration has been seamless,” says McCartan, who at 6”3 is no stranger to towering over his leading ladies. (For the record, Hyland is 5’1”.) The two are inspired when they come together as star-crossed lovers, seeking solace among the morally bankrupt, played out in an unforgettable surge of nostalgia laced with mind-blowing talent.
BACK STORY
Like Fitzgerald, Ryan McCartan’s roots are planted in Minnesota—a geographic link that naturally appealed to him as teen and has gone on to color his relationship to the musical in the best of ways. Born and raised in Minnetonka (a western suburb of the Twin Cities), he caught the acting bug early, working professionally from the age of eight. He recalls that even as a kid he approached the craft on his own terms. Fast forward to a restless first semester at the University of Minnesota where, recognizing the school format and his career goals were at loggerheads, he packed up for L.A.
“I hit the ground running, and was very lucky, booking a couple of guest spots until my first big thing—Liv and Maddie on the Disney Channel, and things just spanned out from there,” he says. As for his New York stage debut: J.D. in the Off-Broadway cult fave Heathers The Musical.
QUINTESSENTIALLY BROADWAY
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Photo: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman.
“If you are a tourist, one of the reasons you want to see a Broadway show is the scale and illustriousness of a mega-musical,” says McCartan. “And The Great Gatsby is definitely that: a show where actual fireworks go off on stage. But there’s another aspect. When you come to see us, you also get to experience American culture through fascinating stories and characters. It’s the American Dream through Fitzgerald’s eyes…and it is quintessentially Broadway,” says McCartan, adding, “You get so much for the price of one ticket.”
The Great Gatsby is playing at The Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway (btw. 52nd & 53rd Sts.). For tickets call 212-239-6200 or visit broadwaygatsby.com.
