It is based on the controversial 1991 novel American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis,[1] which also inspired a 2000 film of the same name, that starred Christian Bale.
Set in Manhattan during the Wall Street boom of the late 1980s, American Psycho is about the daily life of Patrick Bateman, a young and wealthy investment banker who is also secretly a serial killer.
The musical received its world premiere at London's Almeida Theatre in 2013, directed by Rupert Goold and starring Doctor Who actor Matt Smith.
A Broadway production began preview performances on 24 March 2016, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, directed by Goold and starring Benjamin Walker as Patrick Bateman.
[2] In 2008, producers David Johnson, Jesse Singer, Nate Bolotin and Aaron Ray purchased the stage rights[3] and were developing a musical adaptation of the novel to appear on Broadway.
Duncan Sheik, who won a Grammy and two Tony Awards for writing the songs in the Broadway hit Spring Awakening, and playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa had completed the first act.
[8] At the same time a Kickstarter campaign was launched to raise $150,000,[9] to allow them to have a live orchestra and extend the rehearsal period for the production to seven weeks.
Later, Patrick has lunch with his coworkers, Tim Price, Craig McDermott, Luis Carruthers and David Van Patten.
Over dinner, the party blandly pontificate about social and political issues, such as homelessness, gentrification and the Sri Lankan Civil War.
During the intermission of a showing of Les Misérables, Evelyn broaches the subject of marriage with Patrick, who is not convinced by the prospect ("If We Get Married").
Patrick spikes Owen's drink, puts on a raincoat and begins a long one-sided analysis of the artistic and commercial merits of the band Huey Lewis and the News.
Act II Patrick takes Owen's body to an apartment he owns anonymously and dissolves it in a bathtub with a bag of lye.
Much to Jean's delight, Mrs. Bateman tells her stories about Patrick as a child, and says they would make a good couple ("Nice Thought").
On his return, he appropriates Paul Owen's apartment as a place to host and kill more victims, beginning with Sabrina and Christine ("I Am Back").
He leaves a long voicemail for Kimball confessing to the murder of Paul Owen and countless other people ("Clean (Reprise)").
[20] Notable casting for the show included Matt Smith as Patrick Bateman, Susannah Fielding as Evelyn Williams, Jonathan Bailey as Tim Price, Ben Aldridge as Paul Owen and Lucie Jones as Victoria.
[30] The Australian premiere production opened at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney on May 10, 2019, and played until June 14, completely selling out their season.
[32][33] The Chicago premiere production opened at the Chopin Theatre on September 29, 2023, and played until December 10, after completely selling out the run of 9 previews and 45 regular performances.
Once again, the production was re-imagined, this time with an immersive experience in a black box theater, where the theatre is transformed to feel like a New York City club in the 1980s, with seating on three of four sides and an open bar throughout the performance.
[46][47] Easton Ellis is noted to have seen the Broadway production and "enjoyed it, spending the entire opening week promoting the show.
"[49] Both Sheik and Aguirre-Sacasa gave rave reviews to the D.C. production, with Aguirre-Sacasa sharing on his Instagram that “It IS the goriest version I’ve seen to date, but also one of the most cohesive, rigorous, and well sung … 100% commitment from this young, fearless cast, led by (Kyle Dalsimer’s) unhinged Patrick Bateman and (Michael Windsor’s) bravura directing.”[50] The Washington Post lauded the show as “Undeniably Disturbing.”[51] In 2022, an amateur production of the musical is the focus of the sixth-season episode titled "Chapter One Hundred and Twelve: American Psychos" in Riverdale, a series created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.