The lead actors are revealed for the Broadway-bound dramatic sea musical 'Swept Away'

Theater, Musicals, Entertainment, Article

NEW YORK -- The four stars who helped shape the new musical “Swept Away” — John Gallagher Jr., Stark Sands, Adrian Blake Enscoe and Wayne Duvall — will steer the nautical tale to the commercial waves of Broadway.

The story centers on four men who find themselves stranded in the Atlantic Ocean after a 19th-century shipwreck. The musical incorporates songs from The Avett Brothers, particularly from their 2004 album “Mignonette,” and is set to make its Broadway debut at the Longacre Theatre in October.

“This musical, mirroring our own relationships, revolves around the concept of brotherhood. Observing John, Stark, Adrian, and Wayne collaborate on the development of ‘Swept Away’ over these years has embodied the true meaning of brotherhood," The Avett Brothers stated.

The show's narrative was crafted by John Logan, a renowned playwright, known for his Tony Award-winning work "Red" (2009) and screenwriting credits on films like "Gladiator," "The Aviator," and "Skyfall." The production debuted at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in early 2022 and subsequently moved to Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.

The Washington Post reported that the show "aligns with such groundbreaking musicals as ‘Next to Normal’ and ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’” while MD Theatre Guide stated: “With themes of sacrifice, atonement, and confession, ‘Swept Away’ unfolds like a Christian parable, albeit one better aligned with Easter than Christmas.”

Tony-winning director Michael Mayer will helm the show and reunite with Gallagher on Broadway, who won a Tony for his role in the original 2006 production of “Spring Awakening." Mayer also directed both Gallagher and Sands in “American Idiot."

"Creating this new show with my frequent collaborators John Gallagher Jr. and Stark Sands, along with the rest of this incredible cast, continues to be deeply rewarding. I am eagerly anticipating sharing this work with Broadway audiences this fall,” Mayer shared with the AP.

Sands has received two Tony nominations for his performances in “Kinky Boots” and “Journey’s End,” Duvall last appeared on Broadway in “1984” and Enscoe starred opposite Hailee Steinfeld and Jane Krakowski, in Apple TV’s “Dickinson.”

Broadway musicals set on the high seas are not uncommon, such as “Anything Goes,” “Titanic” and “Dames at Sea.” However, some have met with less success, like “The Pirate Queen” and “The Last Ship.”

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Mark Kennedy can be found on http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits