Following acclaimed runs in London, the Olivier Award-winning musical adaptation of The Curious Case made its North American premiere at the Public Theater on October 8, officially opening on October 21 and recently securing a final extension through December 20.
Bringing F. Scott Fitzgerald to Cornwall
While audiences might associate the premise with the 2008 David Fincher film starring Brad Pitt, the reverse-aging title character actually originated in a 1922 short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. That initial narrative leaned heavily into satire with a fantastical bent, but the property has since evolved into a deeper philosophical meditation on time and mortality.
Book writer, lyricist, director, and scenic designer Jethro Compton, alongside composer and lyricist Darren Clark, reimagined the tale inside a Cornish fishing village at the end of the First World War. The production is bookended by the American space program, yet remains rooted in the age-old traditions of a coastal community where Benjamin is born as an old man who smokes cigars and faces rejection from his parents.
Cast and Creative Team in New York
Brought to life by a company of 15 actor-musicians, the production relies on a versatile set modeled after an old wooden ship. The complete actor-musician ensemble includes Britney Coleman as Gwyns, Trenlee Senior, and Captain Carrick; Trevor Lindley Craft as Morlan, Landlord, Mrs. Gladstone’s Sister, Mrs. Gladstone’s Sister’s Granddaughter, and Electrotherapist; Brandon J. Ellis as Tewes and Roger Button; Katie Horner as Treth, Morwenna Keene, Miss Moncrief, Drunken Sailor, and Doctor; Kris Saint-Louis as Lanow, Locryn, and Mrs. Bennett; Claire-Frances Sullivan as Ebron, Lowen, Landlady, and Mr. Gladstone; and Matt Wolpe as Tir, Mrs. Gladstone, Mrs. Gladstone’s Granddaughter, and Billy Tyne, with swings Jo Brook, Casey Martin Klein, Lauren Jeanne Thomas, and Spiff Wiegand rounding out the company.
Following a successful run at London’s Southwark Playhouse that began in 2019, followed by an expanded transfer to the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End in 2024, the production won Best New Musical at the 2025 Olivier Awards. The North American transfer began performances in The Public’s Newman Theater on October 8 with a Joseph Papp Free Performance before officially opening on October 21. Compton reassembled the original London creative team for the United States bow, featuring choreography by Chi-San Howard, music direction by Mark Aspinall, costume design by Anna Kelsey, lighting design by Zoe Spurr, and sound design by Luke Swaffield, with orchestrations provided by Aspinall and Clark.
Andrew Durand Stars in Benjamin Button
Tony nominee Andrew Durand, a proven commodity from oddball shows like Dead Outlaw, Shucked, and last season’s revival of Rocky Horror, stars in the title role of Benjamin Button alongside Reverthi, delivering an understated and vulnerable performance characterized by subtle shifts in voice and posture. Anna Kelsey handles costume design, keeping the de-aging process restrained and imaginative.
Off-Broadway Run Extends to December 20
Following its official opening on October 21, the production announced its third extension Off-Broadway, moving its closing date to December 20. Organizers note that this will mark the final extension for the run at the Public Theater, with any further life for the property remaining unannounced.
