I’ve seen a few Broadway-destined out-of-town try-outs over the years, most of them in San Diego, but more recently Purple Rain in Minnesota and Queen of Versailles in Boston. I was hoping to add another to my list in 2026. Lo and behold, I may get a change to see the premier of Dave Malloy‘s Black Swan the Musical, playing at American Repertory Theatre Company at Harvard University this spring/summer.
Will it be any good, though? Unknown! I haven’t been able to track down much about it, but we do know the music is by Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 composer Dave Malloy. Notable tiktok blogger Sweaty Oracle described the snippet of music he has heard from it as “Radiohead fucked Tchaikovsky”.
For a show about dance, it’s important to get the choreography right. Sonya Tayeh, who won a Tony Award for her work on Moulin Rouge, is slated to choreograph the show.
I’ll be in Boston mid-July and the show’s initial run ends at the end of June. Will it get an extension? Seems likely.
What I know for sure, is the script better include the “Fine! Then it’s garbage” cake scene.
Black Swan is scheduled to play May 26 – Jun 28 at Loeb Drama Center in Cambrige, MA.