A dangerously funny adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ best-selling novel and the 2000 cult film of the same name, American Psycho – The Musical, will make its Melbourne premiere in the Playhouse – Arts Centre Melbourne this May.
Starring Ben Gerrard, the pitch black, social satire of a society driven by capitalism, self-image and wealth tells the story of Patrick Bateman – a young and handsome investment banker and member of Manhattan’s elite who indulges in sadistic sex and murder.
Living in epicentre of excess: Manhattan, NYC, during the Wall Street Boom of the late 1980s and with impeccable taste and unquenchable desires, Patrick and his elite group of friends spend their days in chic restaurants, exclusive clubs and designer labels.
With the book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Riverdale), music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening) and featuring classic 80’s hits from Phil Collins, Tears for Fears, New Order and Huey Lewis and the News, American Psycho – The Musical is both a cult-classic and crime thriller.
American Psycho – The Musical boasts an impressive Australian creative team comprising of the 2020 Sydney Theatre Award Winner for Best Director of a Musical Alexander Berlage (Cry-Baby), Musical Director Andrew Worboys (Sweet Charity, Assassins), Choreographer Yvette Lee (Moonshadow), recipient of multiple Sydney Theatre Awards for Best Set Design Isabel Hudson (Cry-Baby), Costume Designer Mason Browne (Cry-Baby), and Sound Designer Nicholas Walker (Assassins, Blood Brothers).
This production comes to Melbourne after recently winning a staggering nine Sydney Theatre Awards, including Best Independent Musical, Best Direction of a Musical (Alexander Berlage) and for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Ben Gerrard), following a sold out Australian premiere season at the Hayes Theatre, Sydney in May 2019.
American Psycho : The Musical plays the Playhouse – Arts Centre Melbourne (21 – 31 May), before heading to the Sydney Opera House (4 – 21 June) and the Canberra Theatre Centre (30 June – 4 July).
Image: Ben Gerrard stars as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho : The Musical – photo by Daniel Boud