Picnic at Hanging Rock: The Musical, adapted from the Joan Lindsay novel that spawned Peter Weir's 1975 film, will begin previews December 16 at the Greenwich House Theatre for a limited engagement Off-Broadway through January 17, 2026. Opening night is scheduled for December 18.
With a book and lyrics by Hilary Bell and music and arrangements by Greta Gertler Gold, the production will be directed by Portia Krieger with choreography by Mayte Natalio.
The cast will feature Tatianna Córdoba (Real Women Have Curves), Erin Davie (Grey Gardens), Sarah Ellis, Carly Rose Gendell (School of Rock), Gillian Han, Alexandra Humphreys, Bradley Lewis (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Kate Louissaint (A Wonderful World), Marina Pires (How to Dance in Ohio), Maddie Robert (Gypsy at Goodspeed), Brandon Keith Rogers (The Heart at LaJolla), Reese Sebastian Diaz (Dear Evan Hansen), Lizzy Tucker (Boop!), Kaye Tuckerman (The Boy From Oz), Sarah Walsh (School of Rock), and Jordan White. Casting is by The TRC Company's Kevin Metzger-Timson and Tara Rubin.
Set in 1900 on Valentine's Day, the new musical follows a group of teenage schoolgirls who go on a picnic to the foreboding Hanging Rock, where three vanish without a trace.
“Peter Weir’s stunning film grabbed my imagination as a young person and has always haunted me,” said composer Gold in a statement. “The chance for Hilary Bell, Portia Krieger, and me to bring it to life as a musical featuring so many diverse female voices and opening the story up to a crucial First Nations Australian perspective, has been a dream come true.”
Gold continued, ”I’ve always been drawn to darker stories in musicals. It is an exciting challenge to retell this nuanced, female-centered and unresolved tale. It came to Joan Lindsay as a dream when she was 69 years old and has rippled onwards for decades.”
The upcoming production will also have scenic design by Daniel Zimmerman, costume design by Ásta Bennie Hostetter, assistant costume design by Jemima Firestone Greville, lighting design by Barbara Samuels, sound design by Nick Kourtides, orchestrations by Greta Gertler Gold, Adam Gold, and Rob Jost, music direction by conductor Anessa Marie Scolpini, associate music direction by Leigh Delano, and associate direction by Britt Berke.
The production stage manager is Kelly Stillwell, and the First Nations dramaturg is Nick Harvey-Doyle. Rob Jost is the music contractor.
Picnic at Hanging Rock is produced by Irma Theatricals. Co-producers are Willette and Manny Klausner, Lara Goodridge, Alec Stais and Elissa Burke, and Cordelia Stephens, while associate producers are BJ Jackson, Anna Orszaczky, and Karen Robson.
The general manager and executive producer is Carl D. White (Martian Entertainment).
Visit PicnictheMusical.com.
