American Psycho: The Musical That Got Chopped Too Soon

[@WaitintheWings]

Click here ​sbird.co/3utWfIe and use my code WAITWINGS to get 55% OFF your first month at Scentbird. What’s your favorite fragrance? Comment below! Special thanks to Duncan Sheik, Drew Moerlein, and Anna Eilinsfeld for their help putting this episode together!

[@Ayden_B]

I am convinced this channel will not end until every musical has been connected to Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark

[@Laurabeck329]

I'm sure he will find a way to connect cancellation of The Phantom of the Opera to Spiderman somehow

[@questworldiangreenknight7455]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@randomtology]

The closing of Spider-man: Turn off the Dark was the broadway equivalent of assassinating Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

[@asterismos5451]

@@randomtology please write a book that actually fleshes this out it would be so fun

[@mc.gemstone]

I guess you could say that there all connected together on one big spider web.

[@boffyb]

I came here to joke about that guy looking like Matt Smith, but it turns out it's actually Matt Smith?!

[@donultrawide]

It’s funny because Matt Smith and Benjamin Walker both played Patrick Bateman on stage and now are competing as part of two of the biggest fantasy TV shows out right now! (House of the Dragon and The Rings of Power respectively)

[@bigredjanie]

I was surprised too, even though having UK actors in broadway shows isn't new (Dan Radcliffe in How to Succeed comes to mind)

[@MadameChristie]

@@bigredjanieI don't think Matt Smith was on Broadway though. Just the West End

[@trinaq]

Seconded, Matt Smith should play villains more often, as he did to chilling effect in "Last Night in Soho."

[@mfitzburger5137]

@@trinaq If you watch enough Dr.Who episodes, it becomes clear Matt Smith has been playing villains from Day 1.

[@JohannaisaViking]

I love that Matt Smith left Doctor Who and fully went "okay time to lean into the fact that I have a character actor Villain Face"

[@TomasMooerAge4]

One of my favourite lil facts to drop about it is that he started playing Bateman before his final episode as The Doctor had even aired

[@Dizma_Music]

Ah, it’s all so clear now. That explains the use of the fez and bow tie. Tones down the villainous look.

[@jamiex5842]

The peanut butter mask was more horrifying than anything Patrick Bateman ever did.

[@dubblebubbletoilandtrouble6646]

Agreed

[@languageresources2314]

Although you gotta agree we're all curious to try and see if it's worth squeezing into our skincare routines... I'm sure it... would... be... an... experience? Question mark?

[@OddsandEndsandOtters]

The way I involuntarily screamed "YOU'RE JOKING" when it was revealed that Riverdale's Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa was involved in this. Omg.

[@879SCSP]

This actually makes me hate the American Psycho episode more. Like bro, you literally WROTE this

[@chunellemariavictoriaespan8752]

Same... I said no as his first musical in making Archie's gang gay is rather off-putting...

[@rikki_mae]

SAME. I outloud gasped.

[@booktales1687]

@@879SCSP maybe he forgot lmao

[@sallyhazy]

@@879SCSP that american psycho episode was so bad!!! unlike the other musical episodes, the songs did't fit the narrative at all (except for the girls singing You Are What You Wear, that one was was match)

[@SilverShade1008]

I was there on the night, or one of the nights, when the blood cannon went off early. The screen was down so the audience didn’t get sprayed but Ben Walker and Drew Moerlein just broke and kept laughing. The audience was laughing right along with them and broke out in thunderous applause after the murder. It’s one of the best nights I’ve ever had at the theatre.

[@deanscordilis7280]

Some of the best fun I’ve had at shows was when there was an element of imperfection/the fourth wall being broken outside of scripted events. I caught Hadestown when Bway opened back up and the energy during those 4th wall moments was electric. I caught it again for Andre DeSheilds’ last day (matinee show, not the final one), and when he first walked out on stage, everyone (cast included) gave him a minutes-long standing ovation; the way he worked the crowd was unlike anything I’ve seen in the largely prim & proper Broadway sphere. It felt like a party.

[@greengreen4616]

Opera Australia many years ago, contralto Heather Begg almost pushed Denis Olsen off the stage and into the orchestra pit by accident in a production of Patience. The two broke down laughing and it was infectious, we in the audience started laughing too. It was magical.

[@Tamisday]

In New York, it was less reserved. “So there are three blood cannons.” This is a masterpiece 😂

[@iliherr1417]

I've long been of the opinion that a Broadway run is not the end all, be all for musical theatre, and this show is a perfect example. American Psycho would have THRIVED off-Broadway, where the synth score and the bloody fun would've fit in perfectly. I understand Broadway is a business, but sneaky producers looking to make a fast buck are the death of musicals like Psycho. Shows like this need to be played around with to get it right, and off-Broadway is the perfect playground. I remember seeing it on my very first trip to NYC, and walked out feeling as though I had just watched something so out of it's time, in the best way. I truly think it was just a year too early, maybe less - imagine this running after the election of 2016. O_O Truly hope this gets revived and brought back to life in the proper way - with the bloody mess in tact.

[@rando3086]

When Kinky Boots closes at Stage 42 or the Yiddish Fiddler at New World Stages, this could be a good replacement for both.

[@user-ld6th3vw8e]

I think a serious casualty of art under capitalism is that good cool work has to end and disappear because it isnt making enough money; so little theatre makes it this far in the first place

[@nathanl8622]

@@user-ld6th3vw8e I'm not sure if it's ironic or appropriate that American Psycho of all musicals got screwed over.

[@lindakahler4799]

@@rando3086 I saw American psycho in NYC out of curiosity I went alone because not one of my friends would go with me They were saving their money for Hamilton which I found racist. Only white person in the cast is the villainous King George. Anyway I liked the music and found it different. As an independent reviewer I see more off Broadway shows and think you re right about new world stages They do good work and I enjoyed their Edgar Allan Poe musical and scaled down Rent

[@lindakahler4799]

@@rando3086 good idea

[@JadeCryptOfWonders]

I love the new direction Wait In The Wings has taken where the focus isn't "the worst" musical flops, but a much more interesting curation of musical experiments that may or may not have worked due to timing or circumstances.

[@AmbeeLee]

The mystery of just WHY they didn't go off Broadway first like they were meant to has long left me perplexed. I'm so happy to finally have some closure on just why that happened. It's also a bit sad for me that one of the things that the reviews knocked the show on was the character of Jean in the musical. I loved how she grounded him in reality, especially in the second act when he started to slip more and more out of it. I could analysis their interactions all day.

[@bm4114]

I was so worried for Jean the whole show. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to her. There was real tensions happening in that stage. I loved the whole show.

[@kakeyluvsu]

the whole concept is honestly so meta, people was hating on the shallowness of making a novel that was a scathing attack on capitalism and consumerism into a cheesy Broadway musical, when it's just so ironic and fitting honestly. The film literally opens on Patrick staring soullessly into a Les Misérables poster.

[@deckenneth]

As one of the show's investors, I remain proud of the work, understood the risk being taken and would invest in it again. Like most, I wish we had more time to find our audience, which I think we would have, and I agree that the show contributed to more young people 'finding' musical theater. I

[@hailee92]

As someone who saw Psycho five times in NYC, this video is one of the best that you have done. I understand why it took so long for it to come out and it was well worth the wait. Here's hoping new audiences can give it a second chance via this video. Maybe a revival can come around in the future (off broadway of course) or maybe this can get enough traction to fund/kickstart the proper NYC Cast Recording we deserved six years ago. Thank you as always Brendon for doing this hard work. Don't forget that it's always hip to be square :)

[@Atumblingblogger]

i want what you have

[@LexieLouLou]

They were going up against Hamilton?! Nothing was going to beat that. What awful timing! I would LOVE to see this musical, I hope they can bring it back

[@velvet3776]

It's such a shame that the producers pressured this onto Broadway too soon. Ruined the run of what could have been an off-Broadway smash by forcing it to compete in the same season as Hamilton(!) just off of London. I'd love to see this revived at some point, because this sounds like exactly my jam.

[@lindakahler4799]

So true

[@trinaq]

Here's one movie that I NEVER expected would receive a musical adaptation, but it surprisingly works wonders. Also, who would have guessed that Matt Smith would be the perfect Patrick Bateman?! 🔪

[@julielal]

Same. Not only there is a musical about American Psycho of all things, but it starred Dr Who and was written by the Riverdale guy? That's just a string of words that was not meant to ever be uttered, and yet here we are.

[@mollymay7760]

dude, you are everywhere! istg you have the same subscriptions as me

[@emmepemme95]

I haven’t listened to the cast recording yet, but all I can say is… after watching House of the Dragon, Matt Smith playing a serial killer makes sense

[@weirdTedE91]

@@emmepemme95 Or the Deleted Scene he's in from In Bruges. Didn't know he was a singer though!

[@dellow-there]

@@mollymay7760 Oh my gosh, same with me, I see her everywhere! It's nice to know there are other people out there with the same multiple different interests.

[@clarion3204]

It’s amazing how quickly my mindset changed from “why would they ever make this into a musical” to “omg this property was destined to become a musical”. An 80s electronic Duncan sheik original soundtrack performed by Matt Smith fresh off his Doctor Who run??! WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW MUCH I NEED THIS EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE. just… WOW.

[@lildeadgirl1443]

Hearing Benjamin Walker was who they originally had in mind makes so much sense. I have trouble picturing anyone else in the role. His luck when it comes to Broadway breaks my heart cause he’s just crazy talented. Dude, be king of Off Broadway. We’ll still love you.

[@katiehusband1505]

As a student in London who was a Doctor Who fan, I saw it when it came out. I was obsessed with it for a long time. The music is all bops. (In the air and A girl Before are really great)

[@andrewstorm8240]

Agree

[@tape-6]

if american psycho was an off broadway true horror musical with a front row splash zone. god id kill to see it

[@soph996]

So we have Matt Smith in American Psycho and Arthur Darvill in Once. Two musicals that give off VERY different vibes We love it

[@user-ld6th3vw8e]

I gasped audibly at the effect of Patrick taking the axe to Paul and the blood and everything, working correctly it seems like an awesome thing to see

[@rysefries2462]

I unironically really love this show and would really love to see it live one day .

[@donultrawide]

There was an Australian revival in 2019-20 but I learned of the musical after the run was done 😭

[@ajmalaika1287]

IDK but you mentioning Roberto felt like a jumpscare. I can hear Spaceninja groaning from across the internet abyss. In another life he was a renowned musical book writer instead of working on the CW

[@juliannaagoncillo6090]

Given Roberto’s reputation for his musical tv episodes, I fear he would destroy the theater industry in a parallel universe

[@rikki_mae]

I blame Space Ninja for my involuntary twitch at the mention of his name.

[@iusedtowrite6667]

@@rikki_mae same. everytime i see roberto on anything i just think of him

[@ryanb4940]

I saw a “slime tutorial” of the complete Broadway show and absolutely LOVED it. I though American Psycho would not translate at all into a musical but it did. It did really damn well. Incredibly well actually. I’m sad I didn’t get to see it live

[@Lena-qe8df]

I saw American Psycho twice on Broadway. Ben Walker was brilliant, and brought so much physicality to the role. I really felt for him at the time when he was snubbed by the Tonys & ultimately had another Broadway flop. It’s a shame that his performance didn’t make it to a cast album. The London album is really underwhelming compared to Broadway. SO glad this channel brought on the actor who played Paul Owen, he was EXCEPTIONAL. It’s tough when actors put so much into a show that lets them down. Psycho should have never gone to Broadway, it would have done well at Second Stage.

[@etinarcadiaego5708]

I would give anything for a NY cast recording, and I was shocked that it never received one... Benjamin Walker is an incredibly underrated actor, both on film and on stage. His is my favorite embodiment of Patrick Bateman. And of course, I'm basing that assessment on the lone bootleg preview recording that we have. I wish we had more.

[@HayleighPaige]

This would have KILLED it off-broadway, I hope someone decides to bring it back because I’d love to see it!

[@OperativeD]

I would love to see an actual production of this some day. Hopefully it'll make the "community theatre" rounds at some point as a lot of "flops" do. Maybe it'll even be made into a movie or streaming thing at some point and if so I hope that Benjamin Walker or Matt Smith are able to show what they initially gave to the production(s) when they were involved.

[@DistantCousin]

Sadly Matt is a bit old for the role now (he's 40, and Bateman is supposed to be late 20's). A shame, but it would be good to see it filmed, I agree

[@wordforger]

Sadly only the slime tutorial seems to be available.

[@sourdrop]

​@@DistantCousin If Ben Platt can play a 18 year old on screen, anything is possible

[@curranissimo]

I work at the Schoenfeld Theatre. There are still a couple of "blood" stains backstage where they'd leave the laundry to get picked up.

[@Kristine_202]

You actually got an interview with Duncan Sheik? That alone is super impressive. Well done. 👏

[@sarah.anne.sillers]

In case anyone’s watching this in 2024… Monumental Theatre Company in Washington, DC is currently producing a stellar, sharp, immersive (yes, immersive!) rendition of AMERICAN PSYCHO in a tiny black-box theatre, and it’s gotten rave reviews. Duncan Sheik even attended a performance and gave his seal of approval! They just extended through July 28, so if you’re in the DC area I highly recommend checking it out!

[@poppyameiIa]

if i’ve said it once, i’ve said it a hundred times but the west end staging of american psycho is truly some epic crossover event with its casting of matt smith, jonathan bailey, hugh skinner, ben aldridge + lucie jones.

[@aaronjperez]

Jonathan Bailey?!! Fiyeeeeeroooo

[@ronb.5636]

Jonathan Bailey and Hugh Skinner and Ben Aldridge are EVERYTHING to me. Love to you!

[@Cazu_Orddu_Medea]

Family friendly American Psycho? Sounds like a truly great idea. What could go wrong?

[@Bloodanna]

I will forever be devastated that American Psycho The Musical didn't get a video or soundtrack recording in New York. Benjamin Walker is amazing and 'I am Back' with the "rat king" is one of the most visually astounding dance numbers I have ever seen. The fact that I will only ever get to experience it as a grainy, blurry bootleg is a travesty.

[@celestialzone3992]

I’m so glad you covered this musical because I’m OBSESSED with it and it honestly is so underrated. I feel like if it had come out around now people would also love it

[@TheEmbessyNetwork]

Came for Matt Smith, stayed for the content! Very well put together, and as a person who isn't into Broadway musicals, this really had me interested! Great job!

[@RyanSprague51]

Super stoked for this. I worked the entire Broadway run of this show and miss it so much.

[@_.diegojs._]

It’s one of my personal favorite musicals. With it’s success in Europe, I believe that the Broadway production just came out at the wrong time. If it stuck to its Off-Broadway run, and then came out maybe in 2016-17 Broadway season, it may have had a better chance. But I really wish we could have heard a Broadway cast recording. The Broadway version I find much better than the London production, and it’s really sad to see the show not get the love it deserved in New York. Who knows. Maybe a revival will come in the future for audiences to enjoy, but to me it’s an underrated and under appreciated gem

[@kingbumi1656]

Can't believe Daemon Targaryen, Doctor Who, Prince Phillip and Morbius's friend were in this.

[@skinnysnorlax9356]

It’s just “The Doctor”, please don’t ban me from Omashu for life, your highness🥺

[@AaaAa-pq1gb]

The hip to be square scene in the musical is legitimately so good, I remember watching a recording of it and being amazed by the curtain in front of the audience when blood was splattered

[@mfitzburger5137]

I'm so proud of you for sneaking that Morbius clip in.

[@DolenzFan5]

Having Matt Smith as Patrick, I'm honestly speechless. Not a bad choice

[@kellishere]

Gods I wish so much we got a cast recording of the Broadway cast. I was one of the younger people that this show got into musical theatre. Saw the second-to-last performance and wished I’d seen it sooner because I would’ve come back so many times

[@caitlintan49]

Really excited for this one! American Psycho really expanded the scope of musicals I would choose to watch and I was really sad when I heard they closed on Broadway all those years ago (and without a Broadway cast recording to boot).

[@WhenNerdsAttack]

So I havent watched this yet but I wanted to comment before I watch a word of it to say: Thank you for making this. I feel really passionately about this project. I was one of the large donors on the original Kickstarter, so I felt really passionately about this musical. I still have the large og West End poster (the Knife) hanging in my home. I really wish they had just stuck to the off-broadway run as they originally intended and then, only THEN gone to Broadway--and I think they really should have stayed off-broadway. I never actually got to see it live (I donated enough to get tickets to the West End run but I couldn't afford to fly over there), but I hope one day I'll actually get to see it. So thanks again for making this video, and I'm off to watch it now (I'll edit with thoughts!) ETA: Finished watching, and again, what a great break down of what happened and an appreciation for the show. It deserved better than it got, and I really hope it gets a revival or a small tour at some point.

[@broadway331]

I immediately clicked when I saw the video show up on my feed. This show has intrigued me since it first came out. As a mix of Doctor Who fan, Spring Awakening fan, and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson fan, I really wanted to see it. I know someone who did and he loves it. It kills me that we never got a Broadway cast album.

[@mappingoutthesky]

I'm starting to believe that every thing in theatre history is related to Spiderman Turn Off The Dark

[@gloryliberty]

Do I think that American Psycho was a good warmup for Matt Smith to take on Daemon Targaryen in HotD? Yes. But then, what do we think about Benjamin Walker moving on to Gil-Galad in Rings of Power? Such a tone shift!

[@tarheelnyc]

I'm not much of a musical fan, but I went to the last performance of "American Psycho" on Broadway. It wasn't a perfect show, but i LOVED it! It turned me into a Duncan Sheik superfan.

[@maia_gaia]

American Psycho is one of the few Broadway shows that really breaks my heart. I love it so much for all its flaws. It is so weird and interesting, and it was treated so poorly. (The comedy of affluent critics not liking it is not lost on me) I hope one day it'll get a revival or a tour or a new life in some way and finally find the audience it deserves.

[@oneawesomekelsey]

The set-up for the "we'll send the bastard to England" joke was absolute perfection. I love this musical and wish it had truly taken off.

[@itayeldad3317]

What youre saying is that eventually, the musical really came into its own, both artistically and commercialy

[@RemiButt]

This is one of my favorite musical soundtracks ever. Not a Common Man was in my Spotify wrapped last year as one of my top songs, and I'm only a very casual musical fan generally - nothing else in my regular music rotation reflects a "theatre nerd" by any means. Love this channel, much love for this video specifically, I wish this show got so much more love than it did.

[@louissemenoro9067]

not learning that sheik was feeling horribly isolated in upstate new york when writing the second act......because i became obsessed (to the point of derangement) with this musical while feeling horribly isolated in upstate new york. i was full on wandering the streets at night chain-smoking and listening to "this is not an exit" on a loop. but i'm all good now. anyway...great video, super cool to hear the history behind one of my favorite musicals, with exclusive interviews, too!

[@NayvieNoir]

It is so cool that you got to interview people involved in the show. Like, Duncan Sheik?? Congrats!

[@PhazonEnder]

I'm sorry but after you said "Matt Smith" and "dance lessons" I couldn't help but think of The Doctor dancing at Amy and Rory's wedding.

[@kazza6078]

I will comment this on every video I ever see - we need more accessible theatre!! Theatre that shows diversity, theatre that uses multiple art forms, theatre that is affordable and recorded and distributed to those who don't have access to the theatre district.

[@user-is7xs1mr9y]

I only clicked because of Matt Smith, but this was pretty interesting. I had no idea he did a musical, let alone something like this, however he was the perfect choice. I love what they did with the blood cannons, but they shot themselves in the foot by not having blood at all. I'm not someone who enjoys musicals, but this one sounds cool. Good video.

[@rikki_mae]

This episode was like a pop culture bingo episode in the best way. Riverdale, Reeve, Glee, Spider-Man… and Roberto is the Free Space.

[@JacobWatsonVideos]

Impressive video. Very nice.

[@ronb.5636]

I didn't get discounted tickets and I am SO glad I got to see this show. I overheard two guys in the row ahead of mine, and it was their second time seeing it. This musical was amazing and I am just happy I had the chance to see it live.

[@mossmage1]

when i clicked on this video i was laughing at the idea of this musical but its actually so endearing to me now, i wish it succeeded aw

[@undrawalker6656]

This show really should be revived on Broadway. This post pandemic era needs it. Bring us back to theatre. Duncan did an incredible job and we need this production.

[@RandomAssaultPodcast]

I remember his most iconic line in the movie "It's American Psycho Time!"

[@elizabethlevesque6978]

Every time you mention Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark i have ptsd. Not because of the show, because I'm afraid the next words put of your mouth are going to be "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark's....Julie Taymor." Every time I hear about that woman I become increasingly concerned. I respect her as a creative, she HAS done some incredible stuff but....wow she needs therapy.... I took a directing class centered on Shakespeare in undergrad and we were all tasked with writing a report on a different well-known Shakespearian director, i was assigned Taymor and wow....I'm pretty sure I have a look into her psyche after reading about her production of Titus Andronicus...it was so bad for me I kept writing in the margins of my handout "who hurt you Julie....?" I no longer call her Julie Taymor, she is just Julie. I feel like i know too much of her now. Bloody gory violence and creepy puppets are no substitution for therapy Julie......stop, get some help. Most of that was a joke but truly any time I hear Julie come up in a video I tense up like "oh God what have you done THIS TIME????"

[@bloxrocks5179]

did not expect to see the doctor as a sociopathic killer

[@alaskanbltundra]

Wait a second...lets go back to the enron musical

[@SDShepard]

I saw this live in NYC with my family. We were deciding between all the shows, and it just stood out as being something different. I'm so grateful to have had the chance to see it live, it was and is one of the absolute best shows I've seen. I've gone so far as to try and research ways to see if there's any way to watch a well produced archive show of the NYC production, but it would appear none are publicly available. What are the odds we'll ever be able to watch the NYC run in the future? I'm assuming the producers have long since moved on, but it would be amazing to be able to see the NYC production with Benjamin Walker again one more time. Great video, thank you so much for making it.

[@zacklachance17]

When I tell you I clicked IMMEDIATELY! Thank you for covering American Psycho, the Matt Smith run is one of my favorite stage productions ever!

[@grey-spark]

American Psycho could ONLY succeed in London. The cultural shift from London to Broadway. Is like a film festival to Disneyland. To Londoners, 80's America was something exotic, and older generation could rationalize it as "they're making fun of Americans, not me."

[@alang.bandala8863]

With every adaptation, Patrick Bateman is becoming more human And that's bad

[@aaronjperez]

Amazing video! I saw it twice and NOW understand why I fell asleep during Act II the first time. Still such a huge fan of the show and can’t wait for it to have a life again someday.

[@Ryan-wr8fx]

19:11 you think that apartment is terrifying, my brother's apartment is even more sterile and empty

[@vasilikonstan]

Exclusive interview with Duncan Sheik? You are CRUSHING IT with these videos!!!! Keep up the good work! 🏆

[@Tamisday]

Wait. Wait. Wait in the goddamn wings. I just realized … did … did the guy responsible for the Archieverse and the PLL revival disaster write the book for American Psycho: The Musical? IS THIS WHY HE KEEPS TRYING TO WRITE BAD MUSICALS INTO HIS TV SHOWS?

[@WaitintheWings]

He also wrote the revised script for Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark lol

[@mollylizzybeth11]

I saw this when it was still in previews, I guess before they decided to cut all the blood! funnily enough, pretty much my only complaint was that I would have LOVED a splash zone for the show, but there was definitely plenty blood used and staying on the stage. to date it's definitely one of the best shows I've ever seen- from the performances to the technical bits, everything seemed just absolutely perfect to me! and my mother, who usually hates anything slasher and horror related, still tells everyone it's her favorite show because everything about it blew her away! she posted about it online so much the team sent her free merch lmao. the bootleg clip for the rat king in 'I Am Back' absolutely does not do the scene justice, watching it live was mesmerizing, the way they were twitching and moving was so hauntingly unnatural it really stuck with me. also, when we saw the show the heater in the theater was on the fritz so everyone was sweating to death, but even in that....it definitely didn't FEEL too long? like, I'm actually surprised to hear it was 3 hours and that was a problem for them. this was the first show where I actually cared about the scenic design/lighting design/choreography, obviously I never thought they were unimportant before but if you give me a good acting performance I'll be satisfied with a person on an empty stage in a black box lol, but every bit of the show was so. GOOD. so CLEAN. I was floored by it! I was raving about the turn tables and the glass screen in front of paul's death for weeks! the glowing white of the walls was just enough to start making you feel a bit out of it, almost high and detached like patrick himself, and when the red splattered on it? indescribable. I literally woke up the next morning and briefly hallucinated a ton of blood in my hotel bathroom. that sounds bad, but a show has never made me hallucinate before or since, so I'm using it as high praise. the people working at the tckts booth in times square actually tried to talk us out of getting tickets for it- not sure if they just thought I was younger than I actually was or something, but I always found that weird. I also thought the show did a *great* job and humanizing patrick bateman while still keeping him firmly in his villain category- he seemed much more human in the stage show than in the movie to me! if anything, I would've thought that would be what people had a problem with, so that bad review is weird tbh. I would've loved to see matt smith in the role bc he's such a great actor, but benjamin walker was outstanding, and to date you don't want to bring up him getting snubbed a tony nomination around my mother lmao. opening when they did was DEFINITELY what damned them in my opinion- hamilton was just too big to compete with. it's a real shame! I feel like if it opened literally any other season it could've had an absolutely great run! anyway, great video! I was excited that you were doing one because ever since the book and movie started having a bit of a renaissance online I've been trying to hype up the musical more and it felt like no one knew about it 😭 I hope it gets another shot someday

[@pretoilustra]

American Psycho as a play would have been a total hit cause the show was even structured as a play.

[@amungai1]

Going to this in Chicago next month! So excited!

[@sarahsmiles9127]

Loved this video! Also you chose the perfect time to release it because both Walker and Smith are starring in two of the biggest shows on TV right now, House of the Dragon and Rings of Power.

[@mrsupertash]

I saw it in London. Matt Smith was absolutely sublime.

[@ryanadams4812]

Watching this makes me imagine an alternate reality where they started off Broadway and became a wild controversial success that ran all the way up until Covid closed down the theaters. In this better world, there is a comically tone down version released by MTI: American Psycho jr.

[@alexn8672]

I've been binging a lot of content pertaining to Riverdale and all its offshoots recently, so seeing Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa provoked the most intense "God damnit not again!" I've ever mustered. Half of every bad idea or blundered good potential seem to trace back to the Unholy Trifecta of Aguirre-Sacasa, Michael Eisner, and EA. How the cultural world was able to survive the three of them is a mystery.

[@4areadbhar]

I *just* got into American Psycho only a month or so ago, so this could not be better timed!! I'm so glad this Criminally Underrated (hehe) show can finally get the fantastic Wait in the Wings treament it deserves

[@pricelesstim8847]

I think this musical is amazing if you remove it as an adaptation, the songs are perfect though in capturing the vibe of the book but when you get to the changes that are made to the characters especially Patrick (which i feel was done to make him more marketable and palletable to a wide broadway audience) especially when looking at Jean and Evelyn. I feel ending with the wedding completely takes away from the fact that Patrick will never fit in no matter how much he tries because they give him the perfect american dream in the end which i feel takes away from the fact that Evelyn is a pawn to him, yes she still is at the end but them breaking up is vital to Patrick showing that no matter how he tries to fit in he will let it go even after trying. And yes the wedding is not seen as a good thing but it still feels wasted. Also the treatment of jean and Patrick i feel also undermines how Patrick views women, they turn it into an almost sweet forbidden romance that is an 'out' from thw world to Patrick where it is clear in all other versions that PAtrick only sees Jean as a last resort to getting the life he wante becasue he knows hes going to break up with Evelyn. Making a quite frankly predatory relationship into one that people root for rubs me the wrong way as it gives credit to Patrick's harrassment of jean and him taking advantage of her. Also just a fun one Patrick genuinely liking Les Mis is dumb Sorry for the long opinionated rant its just that American Psycho is a huge special intrest of mine and while i do think the musical shines in some aspects (it was the thing that got me int othe book/movie) i think tis not good as an adaptation (specifically the book) in terms of putting American Psycho on stage. But Matt Smith is an amazing Patrick Bateman

[@mfitzburger5137]

Yeah, the stuff with Jean makes it clear how much the story benefits from having women at the helm. It's not surprising a middle-aged, straight guy like Sheik would see the source material and actually think there's potential for a legit romance.

[@LeatherWoofCub]

I don't often comment, but I wanted to congratulate you on this video. I have been a fan of this show for a while - either because it was Duncan Shiek, or because I LOVED the book when I read it in the 80's, or because Matt Smith was Doctor Who, I can't tell. But this was so in depth and brilliant. Thank you.

[@LeatherWoofCub]

Additional note: for anyone who loves the show, READ THE BOOK. It is hilarious if you approach it with a certain satiric mindset. The punctuation of the exaggerated violence with chapters on the musical legacy of Whitney Houston, Phil Collins and Huey Luis and the News are classic comic relief.

[@PoPo-xo6hu]

this video came out at the perfect time because my friends and i are doing an american psycho inspired dance number to 'hip to be square' for our school dance off in a few months and we've been absorbing any american psycho content we can, especially about the musical! plus your videos are always great :D

[@TheDimensionDweller]

I hope you have a great time at the school dance off!

[@normal_mothman]

I've fallen in love with the soundtrack for this Musical, ever since I discovered it while looking for Video Essays about the movie. Hearing about the composer being forced to shove acoustic instruments in, being scathed by reviews, and being kept in the dark about the show's closing breaks my heart. I love the music for the musical, and I think it fits so effertolesly into the world of American Psycho. Duncan Sheik, and all composers for that matter, deserved to be treated well for the incredible work they put in to make these golden tracks.

[@Babbelingbrook]

Fantastic video! I'm sad it closed so I can't see it 😭 Ever considered making a video of the "Price of Egypt" musical from London West End? I watched the opening night and it was absolutely horrible. There were big cuts of scenes and music from the movie, a partly ill-fitting and bad new score, some clothes looked like they were bought at a low budget Halloween store, strange changes to the story and so much smoke/fog/mist that we sometimes had trouble breathing. The "emotional" ending was so bad that some people audibly laughed and we almost walked out during intermission 🤨

[@iphiko9638]

Oh man, this video definitely didn't disappoint! Never thought that what seems like such an outlandish idea had such an intriguing story! I'm wondering, however, if you'll consider doing a video on a french musical called "Mozart: L'Opéra Rock", if you look into foreign musicals that is. It was a huge success in France and Japan, got rave reviews, the songs were and still are wildly known and beloved, even started gaining traction overseas like in America, and yet it shut down with little to no real explanation. In fact, lots of French musicals gained and lost traction and opened and closed. If you're interested, they're pretty intruiguing to check out!

[@eviehnt]

it would’ve been like a satirical sweeney todd without the cannibalism i wish i had seen it.

[@AmyC531]

I so desperately wish I had seen this.

[@ororomunroe8170]

This would have been the perfect oppertunity for a broadway rendition of Hip To Be Scared by Ice Nine Kills

[@EveryFairyDies]

I never knew this existed and I love that Matt Smith was up for it. I do not doubt he owned it. Wish I'd seen it.

[@kazza6078]

You always make me appreciate shows I didn't know much about before 💕 you see the love that was put into these shows that don't get as much love back as they may deserve

[@tobyford583]

I'm super glad I got to see this in London on the original run with Matt Smith, I remember paying to join the theatre "fans" group or something just to get early access. Enjoyed it, as did the people I went with.

[@emc9114]

I watched it 4 times during preview and right before i bought the 5th ticket, it closed :( This show is just fantastic when you watch it in live, and no other show has captured the VIBE of it til now.

[@bm4114]

I agree. I was unexpectedly blown away by it. Very creative, and truly filled with tension. A work of art.

[@happyblacklegends]

This is one of my all time favorite musicals and I only thought the reason this failed was because of Hamilton. I also thought this musical should've won the Tony for lighting the lighting for this show is so amazing and beautiful

[@travichka1]

Wow, I didn’t realize I’d seen a preview for this and not the final run, but given how bloody the version I saw was, I guess I did??? I thought always thought it was so good and never understood how it closed so early, but the blood was a HUGE part of what made it so jarring/surreal. Thanks for solving a personal mystery I’ve had for years!!!

[@TalysAlankil]

the youtube preview when i hovered over the thumbnail showed roberto aguirre sacasa and i went "oh no" and immediately had to watch