Following a critically acclaimed Netflix adaptation, Walter Tevis’ 1983 novel The Queen’s Gambit is heading to Broadway. What’s more, the musical adaptation will feature music and lyrics written by Mitski.
In a statement, Mitski explained that she had been “a fan of the Netflix show, and an even greater fan of the original novel” before being approached for the musical, which was first reported to be in the works back in 2021.
“I was already determined to be a member of this team,” Mitski explained, but that determination only “grew tenfold” after meeting her collaborators, Eboni Booth and Whitney White. Mitski continued, “I absolutely had to be a part of this! I am ecstatic to get to work with all of these amazing creatives, who’ve each built beautiful and unique repertoires of their own.”
Booth will pen the book for the musical, while White will direct. The Queen’s Gambit is set in the Cold War era and centers around the orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon, who struggles with addiction as she rises up the ranks in the chess world.
The Netflix series featured an original score from Carlos Rafael Rivera, who used orchestral music to reflect the changes experienced by Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon. Music from the Vogues, Quincy Jones, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, the Monkees, and more was also included in the show.
“The Queen’s Gambit is a wholly original story about yearning for connection and finding your way in life, no matter the barriers,” Booth said in a statement. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to explore this world in the company of such extraordinary artists. Musicals are one of my first loves, and I feel so lucky to be tasked with the challenge of bringing Beth Harmon’s haunting and inspiring journey to the stage.”
White added, “Everyone has desires, hopes, aspirations, and ideas about who they are and what they can offer the world. The Queen’s Gambit takes us into a story of a brilliant young woman on the hunt for all these things. It is a story that feels like mine and I’m excited to be a part of this exceptional team creating it anew for the stage.”
Mitski dropped her latest album, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, in September. Next year, she will head out on a North American tour in support. Get your tickets here.
