An Avett Brothers Musical, ‘Swept Away’, Is in the Works
The Avett Brothers' music has inspired a new musical. Swept Away will premiere at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in June of 2020.
According to a press release, Swept Away takes place off the coast of New Bedford, Mass., in 1888. A violent storm sinks a whaling ship, and the four survivors each must decide how far they'll go to keep themselves alive, and how they'll live with the consequences of their choices.
“This new and original story built with our songs has revealed meanings and connections which [my brother] Scott [Avett] and I never could have imagined otherwise," says Seth Avett. "Beyond the unique joy and somewhat surreal experience of watching the project develop, it has been an honor to work with everyone involved."
The Avett Brothers are working with writer John Logan and director Michael Mayer. Both men are Tony Awards winners; Logan wrote the book for the Broadway production of Moulin Rouge!, while Mayer is the director behind, among other works, American Idiot, which adapts rock band Green Day's album of the same name into a musical. Chris Miller and Brian Usifer are working on the musical's arrangements and orchestrations.
Tickets for Swept Away are currently available to Berkeley Repertory Theatre's season ticketholders. Details for choose-your-own subscription buyers, and for those who are interested in purchasing tickets only for this musical, will be announced at a later date.
The Avett Brothers last released a new album, True Sadness, in 2016. In recent months, however, they've shared some new songs during their live shows and online.
See Photos From the Avett Brothers' New Year's Eve Shindig in Charlotte, N.C.