AMERICAN PSYCHO to Make New York Return

The cult musical AMERICAN PSYCHO is set to return to New York City next year, with a new production planned for Brooklyn in 2027. The revival will bring Duncan Sheik and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s musical adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ controversial novel back to the city where the story is set, more than a decade after the show’s brief Broadway run.

The upcoming production is currently in development and will be staged at The Empyrean Club, a venue located in Brooklyn. While exact performance dates have not yet been announced, the project marks a new chapter for the musical, which has developed a loyal following since its original premiere.

Directing the production will be Max Hunter, founding artistic director of The Bridge Production Group. Hunter is also among the managing partners developing the revival alongside Tony Award-winning producer Lucas Katler and producer Jesse Singer, founder of Neon Noir, a company known for immersive theatrical and experiential productions.

The creative team behind the original musical is also involved in the new staging. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, known for his work as a playwright, television writer and showrunner on series such as RIVERDALE, wrote the book for the musical adaptation. The score is by Duncan Sheik, the Grammy- and Tony-winning songwriter and composer behind SPRING AWAKENING.

Based on Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 novel, AMERICAN PSYCHO follows the disturbing double life of Patrick Bateman, a wealthy Wall Street investment banker living in Manhattan during the excess-driven 1980s. Outwardly, Bateman appears to have everything, wealth, status, designer clothes and access to the most exclusive restaurants and clubs. Privately, however, he harbours violent impulses that lead him into a series of dark and increasingly disturbing actions.

The novel quickly became a cultural flashpoint upon its release, provoking controversy for its graphic violence and satirical depiction of corporate greed, consumerism and toxic masculinity. It was later adapted into the 2000 film starring Christian Bale, which further cemented the story’s place in popular culture.

The stage musical first premiered in London at the Almeida Theatre in 2013 under the direction of Rupert Goold. That production starred Matt Smith as Patrick Bateman and received widespread attention for its sleek, stylised staging and electronic pop-influenced score. The show later transferred to Broadway in 2016, opening at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.

Although the Broadway engagement was short-lived, running for 27 previews and 54 performances, the production nevertheless attracted strong interest from audiences and critics, earning two Tony Award nominations for scenic design and lighting design. Over time, the musical has gained something of a cult reputation among theatre fans, particularly for its bold aesthetic and darkly comic tone.

In the years since its Broadway run, the musical has continued to appear in various revivals and reworked productions internationally. A revised staging opened in London in 2026 at the Almeida Theatre, returning to the venue where the show originally premiered. The revival marked director Rupert Goold’s final production as artistic director of the theatre.

The upcoming New York production appears to be part of this ongoing re-evaluation of the musical. With a new creative team structure and a venue outside the traditional Broadway circuit, the Brooklyn staging suggests a slightly different approach, potentially aligning the show with immersive or alternative theatre experiences. Producer Jesse Singer’s involvement is particularly notable in this regard, as his work has often focused on innovative, audience-engaging productions.

Choreography for the upcoming revival will be created by Baye & Asa, a dance collective whose work has been presented at institutions including The Joyce Theater and the Guggenheim Museum. Their involvement suggests that movement and physical storytelling will play a significant role in shaping the production’s aesthetic.

Casting for the revival has not yet been announced, and further details about the creative team and performance schedule are expected to be revealed in the coming months.

The return of AMERICAN PSYCHO to New York is likely to attract considerable attention from theatre audiences, particularly those interested in darker or more experimental musical storytelling. Unlike many traditional Broadway shows, the musical occupies a unique space between satire, psychological thriller and pop concert, using an electronic score and stylised staging to evoke the excess and artificiality of 1980s corporate culture.

For fans of the show, the Brooklyn revival will represent an opportunity to see the material revisited with a fresh perspective. For new audiences, it offers a chance to encounter one of the more unusual and provocative works of contemporary musical theatre.

As development continues and further details emerge, the return of AMERICAN PSYCHO to New York City in 2027 is shaping up to be a notable moment for a musical that has steadily built a devoted following since its original debut.