F. Scott Fitzgerald's racy 1925 novel, The Great Gatsby, springs to life at the Broadway Theatre in a new musical by the same name, with music and lyrics by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen, and a book by Kait Kerrigan. Design components for The Great Gatsby comprise scenic and projection design by Paul Tate dePoo III, costume design by Tony winner Linda Cho, sound design by Tony winner Brian Ronan, and lighting design by Cory Pattak, who shares his light plot & gear list.
The musical opened on Broadway on April 25, 2024 after a world-premiere run at the Paper Mill Playhouse in the fall of 2023.
"Gatsby’s gold-encrusted world is an extension of his obsession," explains Pattak. "His obsession to rise out of obscurity, to become part of the glitterati, to win back Daisy. The look and design of the show is in the spirit of the world Gatsby manufactured. Not one of modesty or subtly, but of intentional over-the-top-ness. While trying to stay on the right side of tastefulness and not slide into garishness, we tried to create a visual feast worthy of Gatsby’s obsession. Gatsby’s world was intended to distract from his past, from the truth about who he really was, to be so shiny, sparkly and glamorous that there would be no reason to mine for the substance underneath it all because all your senses were too busy being wowed. If everyone is having the time of their life at the most beautiful party you’ve ever seen, no one would stop to think about the real truths behind the mysterious man."
Click here for Live Design's more extensive coverage of The Great Gatsby, in which Pattak discusses his lighting in-depth: The Glittering World Of Gatsby.
Gear List:
Rental Shop: PRG
61 Vari-Lite VL2600 Profile
16 Martin MAC Viper Wash DX
7 Elation Proteus Maximus
20 GLP Impression X4
9 GLP Impression X4 Bar 20
14 Claypaky Sharpy Wash 330
3 Robe Forte Followspot
101 Ovation Reve E3 (various lenses)
49 ETC Source Four ERS - 750w (various lenses)
67 Color Kinetics ColorBlast 12 TRX
2 Martin Atomic 3000 Strobe
2 ETC Source 4WRD Par - MFL
6 Elation CUEPIX Blinder WW2
8 Altman LED Worklight
21 Martin Rush Par 2 Zoom
2 MDG Atmosphere Hazer
4 Look Solutions Unique 2.1 Hazer
2 Look Solutions Viper NT Fogger
2 Look Solutions Cryo-Fog LP
4 Antari B-200 Bubble Machine
11 Martin JEM AF-1 Fan