The stage musical adaptation of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will make its North American premiere Off Broadway at the Public Theater this fall, with Dead Outlaw Tony nominee Andrew Durand taking the title role. Full casting of the production, which kicks off previews October 8, opens October 21 and runs through November 15, has been unveiled by the Public. In addition to Durand, currently starring in Broadway’s The Rocky Horror Show, the Button cast of actor-musicians will include Kelsee Kimmel as Elowen Keene, Britney Coleman, Trevor Lindley Craft, Brandon J.
Ellis, Katie Horner, Sachiko Mae, Morgan Morse, Kris Saint-Louis, Claire-Frances Sullivan and Matt Wolpe. Based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, the musical reimagines the tale in which a man is born elderly and ages in reverse, re-setting the location to a Cornish fishing village on the coast of Great Britain and giving characters Cornish names.
Button is presented with an onstage company of 15 actor-musicians as it traces the main character’s life from World War I through the 20th Century. The musical, which clinched the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2025, features a book by Jethro Compton, music by Darren Clark, and lyrics by Clark and Compton. As with the West End production, Compton will again direct and provide scenic design.
The staging at the Public’s Newman Theater will re-assemble the original London creative team including choreographer Chi-San Howard, music director Mark Aspinall, costume designer Anna Kelsey, lighting designer Zoe Spurr, and sound designer Luke Swaffield for Autograph Sound. Orchestrations are by Aspinall and Clark. Durand, in addition to Dead Outlaw and The Rocky Horror Show, has appeared on Broadway in Shucked, Spring Awakening, War Horse, Head Over Heels and Ink, as well as numerous Off Broadway productions.
Kelsee Kimmel (who plays Button’s wife Elowen, the musical’s version of the film’s Daisy and short story’s Hildegarde) has appeared on Broadway in Hell’s Kitchen and Six. In the film, Brad Pitt played Benjamin and Daisy was played by Cate Blanchett. Saw this on the West End last year shortly before it finished.
Hands down the best musical I’ve ever seen. Hope it’s a massive success over there too. Nothing I’ve seen before or since in a theatre has brought as much emotion – immense sadness, pure joy.
It’s utterly magical.