CW alum Jeremy Jordan shines in performance as the mysterious millionaire of Broadway's The Great Gatsby

Adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald's page-turning 1925 published novel, The Great Gatsby first took center stage last fall at the New Jersey theater. Fitzgerald's words turned over in my mind as I attended the preview of this sizzling, glitzy Jazz-Age musical. It stars Jeremy Jordan as the mysterious millionaire in Broadway’s performance of The Great Gatsby.

 In a direct record-shattering, sold-out world premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse, the show features music and lyrics by Tony Award nominees Jason Howland (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Little Women); Nathan Tysen (Paradise Square); a book by Jonathan Larson Grant winner Kait Kerrigan (The Mad Ones); staged by award-winning director Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and choreographer Dominique Kelley (Mariah’s Magical Christmas Special, Dancing with the Stars.)

 I was greeted by the staff while walking through the timeless Broadway Theatre where previous shows debuted such as Fiddler on the Roof, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and more. While seated alongside other audience members, the lights begin to dim and the orchestra starts to play. I soaked in the opening that headlines a clear-cut narration straight from the source material as Noah J. Rickett (Fellow Travelers, Frozen) plays Nick Carraway drives the first luxuriant musical number.

The next two musical numbers are a clear description of Hadestown’s Eva Noblezada’s graceful performance as Daisy Faye Buchanan. Joining Noblezada in the first scene of the show is John Zdrojeski (Good Night Oscar) as Tom Buchanan, Samantha Pauly (Six) as Jordan Baker, and Rickett who was introduced much earlier. The show performance resumes with Rickett and Pauly at Gatsby’s mansion where the song ends with Nick leaving the party to meet Gatsby.

The stage then fades out from the party to Gatsby's office where Gatsby appears on the stage in his discussion with Nick and soon bursts out into song pulling our heartstrings as he expresses his sentiments and soul to Nick in asking for a favor to invite Daisy over for tea.

The CW alum Jordan brings charm and sophistication as well as groundedness in his ballads confessing to the audiences about his dreams and why he is still pursuing Daisy. It allows us as seated audiences to root for Jay to see him get his dream but as the ending in the source material told, we all know. This provides bittersweet influential words of wisdom that were instilled from the first time we read the iconic novel.

The Great Gatsby began previews on Friday, March 29, 2024, and opening night is set on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at The Broadway Theatre of 53rd & Broadway in New York.