Of all the things 2020 brought with it, the widespread obsession with Netflix series The Queen's Gambit was definitely one of them. Mitski — she's just like us! — was also a big fan, so she made a play to get on the proverbial chess board. The story of prodigy Beth Harmon, based on the 1978 novel by Walter Tevis, is now headed to Broadway, with a show featuring music and lyrics by the great singer-songwriter.
"Before [production group] Level Forward even brought the idea of making a musical of The Queen's Gambit, I was a fan of the Netflix show, and an even greater fan of the original novel. So I was already determined to be a member of this team," Mitski explained in a statement.
The Broadway adaptation was written by Eboni Booth and will be directed by Whitney White — a duo who made the pop star's determination to be involved with the show "gr[o]w tenfold," according to the musician. "I absolutely had to be a part of this! I am ecstatic to get to work with all of these amazing creatives, who've each built beautiful and unique repertoires of their own," she said.
"The Queen's Gambit is a wholly original story about yearning for connection and finding your way in life, no matter the barriers," Booth shared in a statement of her own. "I couldn't be more thrilled to explore this world in the company of such extraordinary artists. Musicals are one of my first loves, and I feel so lucky to be tasked with the challenge of bringing Beth Harmon's haunting and inspiring journey to the stage."
White added, "Everyone has desires, hopes, aspirations, and ideas about who they are and what they can offer the world. The Queen's Gambit takes us into a story of a brilliant young woman on the hunt for all these things. It is a story that feels like mine and I'm excited to be a part of this exceptional team creating it anew for the stage."
The Netflix show featured an original score by Carlos Rafael Rivera, whose orchestral manoeuvres mirrored the changes Harmon (played by Anja Taylor-Joy) went through across the series, as well as featuring music placements by the likes of the Vogues, Quincy Jones, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson and the Monkees.
Mitski has described her new album, the storytelling masterclass that is The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, as her most American record, uniquely equipping her to help bring the period drama to life on stage.
"Before [production group] Level Forward even brought the idea of making a musical of The Queen's Gambit, I was a fan of the Netflix show, and an even greater fan of the original novel. So I was already determined to be a member of this team," Mitski explained in a statement.
The Broadway adaptation was written by Eboni Booth and will be directed by Whitney White — a duo who made the pop star's determination to be involved with the show "gr[o]w tenfold," according to the musician. "I absolutely had to be a part of this! I am ecstatic to get to work with all of these amazing creatives, who've each built beautiful and unique repertoires of their own," she said.
"The Queen's Gambit is a wholly original story about yearning for connection and finding your way in life, no matter the barriers," Booth shared in a statement of her own. "I couldn't be more thrilled to explore this world in the company of such extraordinary artists. Musicals are one of my first loves, and I feel so lucky to be tasked with the challenge of bringing Beth Harmon's haunting and inspiring journey to the stage."
White added, "Everyone has desires, hopes, aspirations, and ideas about who they are and what they can offer the world. The Queen's Gambit takes us into a story of a brilliant young woman on the hunt for all these things. It is a story that feels like mine and I'm excited to be a part of this exceptional team creating it anew for the stage."
The Netflix show featured an original score by Carlos Rafael Rivera, whose orchestral manoeuvres mirrored the changes Harmon (played by Anja Taylor-Joy) went through across the series, as well as featuring music placements by the likes of the Vogues, Quincy Jones, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson and the Monkees.
Mitski has described her new album, the storytelling masterclass that is The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, as her most American record, uniquely equipping her to help bring the period drama to life on stage.
