‘The Great Gatsby’ turns 100 as Broadway Show Hits KC

The timeless story of Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan and Nick Carraway has entertained readers and moviegoers for a hundred years. “`The Great Gatsby’ has a lot of common themes that I feel are present today in terms of image, ambition and wealth,” Macy McKown said. “It’s a classic love story, and it explores the American dream.”

Scott Fitzgerald’s novel has enjoyed a surge in popularity since the centennial of its publication last year. The Kansas City Ballet will stage a dance version in early May. And beginning on St. Patrick’s Day, the American Theatre Guild will present a new musical production of “The Great Gatsby” at the Music Hall in Kansas City. McKown will appear in the role of Sugar and as a member of the ensemble.

“Something the musical does really beautifully that we don’t necessarily get in the book is that it is written in third person, while the book was written in first person from the perspective of Nick Carraway,” she said. “Changing the way the musical is written uplifts the female voices and gives the audience something new to discover. The music is pop-influenced, which makes it feel a bit more modern as well, but it does have very traditional 1920s elements. The choreography also is very time-period, but it also has elements of 2026 thrown in. There are several improv moments for dancers.”

The result is a production that has a modern feel while also being a throwback to the big, splashy Broadway musicals of the past.

“The thing that is really wonderful about this show is that it’s a classic Broadway show, with a lot of energy and extravaganza,” McKown said. “The costumes are immaculate and over the top, the sets are massive and there are fireworks on stage. It is quite a spectacle. It feels new, but it does have those elements that the movie brought to life a few years ago.”

Macy is making her national tour debut after performing the musical in South Korea. The Oklahoma City native who now lives in New York enjoys how the show stretches her as a performer.

“I grew up singing in church and always loved singing,” she said. “I took dance classes and kind of by coincidence, I won a trip to New York and saw a Broadway musical. That was the first time I understood that musical theater was something you could make a career out of. I caught the bug then and came home and signed up for our local theater. That’s when I was introduced to singing, dancing and acting on stage. I went to school for musical theater, so I would like to call myself a triple threat.”

Spiritual themes emerge among the joyful singing and dancing.

It shows that when you get caught up in all of those things and the ways of the world, it leads to death.

“The character George Wilson constantly talks about God’s eye and how God sees everything,” McKown said. “The story takes a really dark, twisted turn, because when his wife, Myrtle, is killed, it leads him to kill Gatsby. He says, `God sees everything. Who’s going to be his hands?’ And then he murders Gatsby.”

The story reveals the sometimes dark side of the Jazz Age.

The characters “are so broken”

“As a Christian, the thing I would take away from it is that it is the time of Prohibition, so the show is talking about parties, booze and drugs and all of the things that were happening in the 1920s,” she said. “When you look at these people, they all are so broken. I think it explores the seven deadly sins. It shows that when you get caught up in all of those things and the ways of the world, it leads to death. Wilson is one of the few people in the show who isn’t getting tied up in these worldly matters, and he still has a tragic ending.”

McKown leans on her faith to keep her grounded in the glamorous but also grueling world of national tours.

“It is very challenging to be on the road,” she said. “When we were in South Korea, there was a bustling Christian population, but the services are in Korean. Being over there helped me to really ingrain practices of setting aside one-on-one time with Jesus to pray and read the Bible. Especially when I am on the road and missing my family or just a normal lifestyle, I try to set aside the first 30 minutes and the last 30 minutes of my day. That has become a staple in helping me feel present and connected with myself.”

Her initial plan to visit local churches during tour stops turned out to be impractical.

“The reality is that if we get out of shows at 11 p.m. and have a matinee at 1 p.m. the next day, I have to rest,” she said. “I am grateful that my home church in Oklahoma has an easily accessible livestream. That’s a great way for me on Sundays to feel that I still am worshiping and feeling connected with the church. I watch that on my way to the theater or while sitting in the dressing room, which is really lovely.”

McKown also reminds herself why she does what she does.

Remember your why

“Every night, even on the nights when it’s the toughest, our director and choreographer say, ‘remember your why,” she said. “I decided I wanted to do this when I was 10 years old, and I know the time and hard work it has taken to get here. I also believe this is a gift the Lord has given me that is meant to be shared. I would be doing a disservice by not using this gift I have been given.”

McKown encourages families to attend the show not only to gain new insight into human nature but also to enjoy a fun evening of song and dance. She is excited to perform in Kansas City, where she not only has worked at Starlight Theatre but will be staying at the home of a longtime family friend. Her theater biography includes Ephesians 3:20, which says that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.

“This verse really emphasizes God’s capacity to surpass human limitations and expectations,” she said. “God wants us to ask for big things and trust in him, because he is capable of more than we can even conceive. Although I may not know what’s going on behind the scenes, he has a plan laid out for me. No dream is too big, nothing is impossible and he can bring it to fruition.”

“The Great Gatsby” will be performed from March 17-22 at the Music Hall. For tickets or more information, visit Kansas City | The American Theatre Guild | American Theatre Guild.

–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice

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