Bridgerton star to portray gay fashion icon Alexander McQueen in off-Broadway production
The House of McQueen play is set to hit off-Broadway. (Jemal Countess/WireImage for Saks Fifth Ave – NY)
The House of McQueen play is set to hit off-Broadway. (Jemal Countess/WireImage for Saks Fifth Ave - NY)
An off-Broadway play celebrating the life and career of gay fashion designer Alexander McQueen, titled House of McQueen, is in the works, and a Bridgerton star is set to portray the late icon.
On Tuesday (8 July), Deadline reported that none other than actor Luke Newton will be stepping into McQueen’s metaphorical dress shoes in the production, House of McQueen. The out gay fashion designer died in 2010 at the age of 40.
Newton is best known for his role as Colin Bridgerton in the Netflix series, who was the star couple in season three, alongside Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope Featherington.
The official synopsis for the play reads: “House of McQueen is a new Off-Broadway play about the life and work of iconic fashion designer Alexander McQueen as told from his own revolutionary, daring and elegant perspective. It is the story of a boy born in the East End of London, who literally wears his heart on his sleeve, never meant to rise beyond his working-class family.
“From making doll clothes for his mother’s friends to working in a tailor shop, he rises to the top of the fashion industry as chief designer for Givenchy and head of his own legendary fashion line, as his fashion shows become theatrical and artistic spectacles, attracting countless celebrities.
“Seeking to find beauty in the most devastating aspects of life, McQueen envisions and creates clothes to empower women in response to what is happening in his life and the world around him. Fighting against the commercial interests of legendary houses like Givenchy and Gucci to remain provocative, he challenges norms and pushes boundaries as an artist. In the end, the fight consumes him.”
Directing House of McQueen is Angels in America director Sam Helfrich, while Rick Lazes (Lennox Lewis: The Untold Story), and McQueen’s nephew, Gary James, are both joining as executive producer and creative director, respectively. The rest of the cast for the show is yet to be announced.
Newton is not the only Bridgerton star to appear on stage after starring in the steamy period drama. His co-star, Jonathan Bailey, who plays his on-screen older brother Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, has been praised for his turn in the Shakespeare classic, Richard II.
Meanwhile, other series stars, including Adoja Andoh, Luke Thompson, Golda Rosheuvel, and Regé-Jean Page, have an impressive collection of theatre credits.
Previews for House of McQueen are set to launch at The Mansion at Hudson Yards, New York, on 19 August. The official opening is set for 9 September.
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