“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” Returns to the Stage, This Time Just a Little Closer to Home – front mezz junkies, Theater News

Frontmezzjunkies reports: After capturing my heart in London’s West End, the Olivier Award-winning musical arrives this fall Off-Broadway at The Public Theater.

By Ross

There are very few musicals that have lingered with me quite like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. When I saw it in London’s West End in 2024, I walked away convinced I had witnessed something genuinely special, a production that “soared on an Irish wind,” carried by extraordinary storytelling, haunting folk-inspired music, and an emotional honesty that seemed to deepen with every passing scene. Now, one of the productions I have been hoping would cross the Atlantic is finally making its North American premiere this fall at New York’s Public Theater.

The Public has announced full casting for the Off-Broadway engagement, running October 8 through November 15 in the Newman Theater, with opening night set for October 21. Tony nominee Andrew Durand, whose remarkable work in Dead Outlaw makes him an inspired choice to take on the title role of Benjamin Button alongside Kelsee Kimmel and Britney Coleman. They will be joined by an ensemble of actor-musicians including Trevor Lindley Craft, Brandon J. Ellis, Katie Horner, Sachiko Mae, Morgan Morse, Kris Saint-Louis, Claire-Frances Sullivan, and Matt Wolpe. One of the musical’s greatest achievements lies in the way its performers constantly shift between characters while remaining fully immersed in the storytelling, creating a theatrical language that feels both intimate and exhilarating.

Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story, this adaptation by Jethro Compton and Darren Clark transforms the familiar premise into something uniquely its own. Set against the rugged coastline of Cornwall, Benjamin’s extraordinary life unfolds in reverse, carrying audiences through love, loss, family, war, friendship, and the passage of time. What struck me most during its London run was how completely the production trusted simplicity. A company of actor-musicians, a beautifully textured folk score, and staging that relied on imagination rather than spectacle allowed every emotional beat to land with remarkable clarity. It became one of those rare musicals where every creative choice felt purposeful, creating what I described at the time as “one of the most heartfelt and unexpectedly uplifting theatrical experiences” I had encountered.

Even more exciting is the return of the original creative team. Writer and director Jethro Compton once again leads the production while also serving as scenic designer, joined by choreographer Chi-San Howard, music director and orchestrator Mark Aspinall, costume designer Anna Kelsey, lighting designer Zoe Spurr, and sound designer Luke Swaffield. Reuniting the artists who shaped the production into the 2025 Olivier Award winner for Best New Musical feels like exactly the right decision, preserving the distinctive voice that made it unforgettable in London.

As someone who has already been fortunate enough to experience this remarkable musical once, the opportunity to encounter it again, now on this side of the Atlantic, feels like welcoming back an old Irish friend. Its story may begin with a man born old who grows younger, but what gives The Curious Case of Benjamin Button its lasting power is the way it quietly celebrates every stage of living, every connection we make, and every fleeting moment we are lucky enough to share. This was one of the productions I most hoped New York audiences would eventually embrace. Now I can finally exhale a little.