The Great Gatsby at the National Theatre Is a Lavish Broadway Experience Worth Seeing

Production: The Great Gatsby

Directed by: Marc Bruni

Choreography by: Dominique Kelley

Run Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes (including intermission)

Venue: National Theatre, Washington, D.C.

Show Dates: May 12th – 24th, 2026

Location: National Theater

Purchase Tickets here.

We are all familiar with The Great Gatsby, especially the film starring Robert Redford and written by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and set during the Roaring Twenties. Now, the National Theatre has brought the Broadway version to D.C. for a limited May 24 run, and it is absolutely a must-see that should be part of your spring plans while it’s in town.

The Performances

Let’s start by acknowledging the charismatic performance of Leanne Robinson as Jordan Baker. Not only does she have impressive vocal skills, but her humor and funny quips keep your attention every second she’s on stage. She can dance, she can sing, and let’s talk about how incredible she looks physically, with Angela Bassett-level sculpted arms that somehow become part of the character’s commanding presence. Jordan is a professional golfer who plays by her own rules, literally and figuratively. She knows how to have a good time, makes her own money, and remains cautious about love for understandable reasons.

Joshua Grosso also shines as Nick Carraway, the character through whom the audience experiences much of the story. A veteran turned writer, Nick finds himself caught in the middle of the complicated dynamic between his cousin Daisy Buchanan (Senzel Ahmady), her husband Tom Buchanan (Will Branner), and Jay Gatsby (Jake David Smith). Grosso brings a lively energy to the role and has excellent chemistry with Robinson. Whenever they share the stage, they nearly steal the entire show.

One of Grosso’s standout moments is the musical number “The Met,” which is comedic, energetic, and physically impressive. As Nick drunkenly dreams of escaping to the Metropolitan Museum of Art while trapped in a house full of people indulging in reckless hedonism, Grosso fully commits to the craziness and humor of the scene.

Will Branner’s portrayal of Tom Buchanan makes him delightfully deplorable. His cheating, arrogance, and constant need for control make him easy to dislike, but Branner injects enough charm and humor into the role to make him entertaining as well. His performance, alongside Senzel Ahmady’s emotional portrayal of Daisy, helps audiences understand Daisy’s conflicted emotions and why Gatsby’s return reignites something inside her.

If you want to see someone fully embody heartbreak and desperation, Tally Sessions as George Wilson delivers one of the show’s most emotionally devastating performances. George is a man trying his best, only to be constantly ridiculed and emotionally crushed by the woman he loves. Sessions makes you feel every ounce of anguish through both his vocals and physical performance. Every movement and lyric carries emotional weight.

The standout performance of the night, however, belongs to Jake David Smith as Jay Gatsby. His first major number, “For Her,” immediately establishes the smooth, emotionally rich quality of his voice. Smith’s vocals are powerful yet vulnerable, perfectly capturing Gatsby’s longing and obsession. He was so impressive that my friend sitting next to me nudged me during the performance as if to say, “That boy good!” like the famous line from Coming to America.

Smith continues to wow the audience with performances of songs like “Only Tea” and “My Green Light,” both of which feel destined to end up on theater lovers’ playlists.

The Set Design Is the Star

The eye-catching visuals you see in the advertisements on YouTube and social media are exactly what you get — and then some. From Gatsby’s lavish party scenes to the massive moving set pieces and dazzling lighting design, the production fully immerses you in its world. At times, it almost feels like putting on a VR headset and stepping directly into the Roaring Twenties, except you’re experiencing it live from your theater seat.

The set design is just as much a performer as the actors themselves. The transitions between scenes are smooth and cinematic, making the musical feel like an immersive film unfolding in real time.

Add to that an incredible live orchestra that constantly keeps the audience energized with jazzy, big-band-inspired arrangements. Songs like “New Money” and “La Dee Dah With You” had the crowd clapping, moving, and completely engaged. The ensemble especially shines during these larger musical numbers, with energetic choreography, tap dancing, and infectious chemistry that make you wish the songs would keep going.

Major kudos also go to the band, whose performance elevates every moment of the show. You may even find yourself looking up the soundtrack afterward.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to The Great Gatsby at The National Theatre, I give the show a 7/10. Between the stunning set design, strong ensemble work, and standout vocal performances, it delivers the kind of theatrical spectacle audiences will continue talking about long after the curtain closes. It’s a fun, immersive experience that may even inspire an encore viewing before it leaves the nation’s capital.

And if you really want to complete the experience, put on your best Gatsby-inspired attire and fully embrace the glamour of the evening.