Now here’s a musical that sounds really interesting…

Nightmare Alley, based on a 1946 novel by William Lindsay Gresham, tells the story of Stan, a con turned carnie, who falls in love with Molly, the dark darling of the traveling carnival. Filled with freaks, geeks, lovers and fools, the show considers fate, free-will and the consequences that await when you make the wrong choice.

Set in the dark, shadowy world of a second rate carnival, the novel was the inspiration for a 1947 film featuring Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell.

Now, Jonathan Brielle has adapted it for the musical theatre stage and the new musical will receive its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles in April this year. Of his creation, Brielle says:

When I first read the novel, I was so struck by the question of how someone sinks so low as to become part of a carnival freak show that I felt the need to put this story to music. After working closely with the Gresham estate and in recent years collaborating with Gil, I feel like we are truly ready to raise the big top and watch these fantastic characters come to life in all their revelry and tragedy on the Geffen stage.

Directed by Gilbert Cates, the cast features James Barbour, Mary Gordon Murray, Larry Cedar, Michael McCarty, Melody Butiu, Leslie Stevens, Anise E. Ritchiem and Alet Taylor. It sounds like one to watch….