The Broadway musical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel 'The Great Gatsby' has made its Korean debut with a fresh feminist interpretation that resonates strongly with Seoul audiences. The production, featuring book writer Kait Kerrigan's contemporary take on the Jazz Age story, opened at the GS Arts Center in southern Seoul to critical acclaim and enthusiastic audience response.

Kerrigan, who served as the book writer for the musical, visited Seoul in August to witness the Korean premiere of the Broadway production. During her visit on August 7, she expressed excitement about how Korean audiences were connecting with the show's reimagined narrative. The musical offers a distinctly different perspective from previous adaptations, placing greater emphasis on the female characters' agency and experiences within the decadent world of 1920s America.

The Korean production has found particular success in highlighting the feminist elements that Kerrigan wove into her adaptation. Unlike traditional interpretations that focus primarily on Jay Gatsby's pursuit of the American Dream, this version gives stronger voices to characters like Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker. The musical explores themes of female empowerment and social expectations that resonate with contemporary Korean audiences, particularly in a society grappling with changing gender roles and women's rights.

The GS Arts Center venue has provided an intimate setting for the production, allowing audiences to experience the emotional depth and musical complexity of the show. Korean theatergoers have responded positively to the production's blend of classic American literature with modern sensibilities, creating a cultural bridge that speaks to universal themes of love, ambition, and social inequality.

The success of 'The Great Gatsby' musical in Seoul demonstrates the growing appetite for sophisticated Broadway productions in the Korean theater market. As the run continues, the production is expected to influence future adaptations of classic literature for the musical theater stage, potentially inspiring more works that reexamine traditional narratives through contemporary lenses.