A creative team has been lined up for the musical adaptation of “The Queen’s Gambit.” The project is currently in development with an intention to debut on Broadway.
Playwright Eboni Booth and Obie Award-winner Whitney White are joining forces to bring The Queen’s Gambit to the stage. Eboni Booth, known for her work on Primary Trust, is set to write the book, while Whitney White, the director of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding currently running on Broadway, will take the helm. The Queen’s Gambit musical adaptationis based on Walter Tevis’ novel and the popular Netflix series.
Joining this dynamic duo is the Oscar-nominated singer-songwriter Mitski, who will be responsible for crafting the music and lyrics for the musical adaptation.
Producers Level Forward, along with Tony-winning Tina star Adrienne Warren, Lawryn LaCroix, and Tony Award-winning producer Mara Isaacs, announced the development. Mitski expressed her excitement, stating, “I am ecstatic to get to work with all of these amazing creatives.”
“Before Level Forward even brought the idea of making a musical of The Queen’s Gambit, I was a fan of the Netflix show, and an even greater fan of the original novel.”
The Queen’s Gambit, a story of an orphan turned chess prodigy, explores themes of control, ambition, and the universal journey of self-discovery. The novel, published in 1983 by Walter Tevis, became a best-seller, and the Netflix miniseries garnered widespread acclaim.
“The Queen’s Gambit is a wholly original story about yearning for connection and finding your way in life, no matter the barriers,” said Booth. “I feel so lucky to be tasked with the challenge of bringing Beth Harmon’s haunting and inspiring journey to the stage,” she added.
White shared her perspective, stating, “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.”