The musical "Swept Away," featuring John Gallagher Jr., Stark Sands, Adrian Blake Enscoe, and Wayne Duvall, is set to make its Broadway debut this October at the Longacre Theatre. The story revolves around four men stranded after a 19th-century shipwreck, and showcases songs from The Avett Brothers, particularly from their 2004 album "Mignonette." The Avett Brothers described the musical as embodying "the precise definition of brotherhood."
"Swept Away" was penned by John Logan, known for "Red" and screenwriting credits such as "Gladiator" and "Skyfall." The show initially premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in early 2022, later moving to Arena Stage in Washington, DC. Critics have likened "Swept Away" to boundary-pushing musicals like "Next to Normal" and "Dear Evan Hansen." The Washington Post applauded its innovative approach, while MD Theatre Guide highlighted its profound themes.
Tony winner Michael Mayer directs, reuniting with Gallagher from "Spring Awakening" and with both Gallagher and Sands from "American Idiot." Mayer expressed his enthusiasm saying, "I can't wait to share the work with Broadway audiences this fall." Sands holds two Tony nominations for "Kinky Boots" and "Journey's End," while Duvall's last Broadway appearance was in "1984," and Enscoe has appeared in Apple TV's "Dickinson." "Swept Away" aims to join the ranks of notable sea-set musicals, though some past attempts like "The Pirate Queen" and "The Last Ship" have not fared well. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)