China Anne McClain is heading to Broadway. The Descendants franchise star will make her stage debut as Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby beginning August 3 at the Broadway Theatre, taking over the role from two-time Tony nominee Eva Noblezada, who plays her final performance on July 26.
Joining McClain is Ryan McCartan, who returns to the role of Jay Gatsby for the fourth time beginning July 27, succeeding Reeve Carney, who also plays his final performance on July 26. In the interim week between July 27 and August 2, national tour star Senzel Ahmady will make her own Broadway debut in the role of Daisy.
Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel, The Great Gatsby follows the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby as he pursues a reunion with his former love, Daisy Buchanan, against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties. The musical features music and lyrics by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen, a book by Kait Kerrigan and direction by Marc Bruni with choreography by Dominique Kelley.
As we previously reported, Naturi Naughton-Lewis is also joining the production as Jordan Baker beginning July 31, marking her first return to Broadway in 20 years. The Power and Power Book II: Ghost star succeeds Samantha Pauly, who plays her final performance in the role on July 26.
The production also features Corbin Bleu as Nick Carraway, John Behlmann as Tom Buchanan, Linedy Genao as Myrtle Wilson, Charlie Pollock as George Wilson, Matthew Saldívar as Meyer Wolfsheim and Samantha Pauly as Jordan Baker through July 26, when Naturi Naughton-Lewis takes over the role beginning July 31.
The production originally premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey in 2023, where it became the highest-grossing production in the theater’s history, before transferring to Broadway in 2024. It has now played over 900 performances and sold more than one million tickets.
McClain, 27, is best known for her role as Uma in the Descendants franchise, as well as Black Lightning and A.N.T. Farm. She also performs with her sisters in the singing group Thriii.