The Public Theater Announces Full Cast for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Musical

The Public Theater has announced the full cast for the stage musical adaptation of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which will make its North American premiere Off Broadway at the Public Theater this fall. The musical, based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, reimagines the tale in which a man is born elderly and ages in reverse, re-setting the location to a Cornish fishing village on the coast of Great Britain and giving characters Cornish names.

Andrew Durand, a Tony nominee for his role in the musical Dead Outlaw, will take on the title role of Benjamin Button. Durand is currently starring in Broadway’s The Rocky Horror Show and has appeared in numerous other Broadway and Off Broadway productions, including Shucked, Spring Awakening, War Horse, Head Over Heels, and Ink.

The cast of actor-musicians for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button also includes Kelsee Kimmel as Elowen Keene, Britney Coleman, Trevor Lindley Craft, Brandon J. Ellis, Katie Horner, Sachiko Mae, Morgan Morse, Kris Saint-Louis, Claire-Frances Sullivan, and Matt Wolpe.

Directed by Jethro Compton, who also wrote the book for the musical, the production features music by Darren Clark and lyrics by Clark and Compton. The staging will re-assemble the original London creative team, including choreographer Chi-San Howard, music director Mark Aspinall, costume designer Anna Kelsey, lighting designer Zoe Spurr, and sound designer Luke Swaffield for Autograph Sound. Orchestrations are by Aspinall and Clark.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button musical won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2025 and will run at the Public’s Newman Theater from October 8 to November 15, with previews beginning on October 8 and the opening night set for October 21.

About the Musical

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a musical adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story of the same name. The story follows the life of Benjamin Button, a man born with the physical appearance of an elderly man who ages in reverse. The musical reimagines the tale in a Cornish fishing village on the coast of Great Britain, giving characters Cornish names and re-setting the location.

The musical features a book by Jethro Compton, music by Darren Clark, and lyrics by Clark and Compton. The staging at the Public’s Newman Theater will re-assemble the original London creative team, including choreographer Chi-San Howard, music director Mark Aspinall, costume designer Anna Kelsey, lighting designer Zoe Spurr, and sound designer Luke Swaffield for Autograph Sound.

Orchestrations for the musical are by Mark Aspinall and Darren Clark. The musical’s creative team includes Jethro Compton as director and scenic designer, Chi-San Howard as choreographer, Mark Aspinall as music director, Anna Kelsey as costume designer, Zoe Spurr as lighting designer, and Luke Swaffield for Autograph Sound as sound designer.

The Public Theater’s production of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will run from October 8 to November 15, with previews beginning on October 8 and the opening night set for October 21.

Andrew Durand, the Tony nominee for Dead Outlaw, will take on the title role of Benjamin Button in the musical. Durand is currently starring in Broadway’s The Rocky Horror Show and has appeared in numerous other Broadway and Off Broadway productions.

Kelsee Kimmel will play the role of Elowen Keene, Benjamin’s wife in the musical. Kimmel has appeared on Broadway in Hell’s Kitchen and Six.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button musical won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2025 and will be a must-see production this fall at the Public Theater.