Oscar-nominated singer/songwriter Mitski is attached to write the music and lyrics for a musical production of The Queen's Gambit with playwright Eboni Booth (Primary Trust) writing the book and Obie Award-winner Whitney White (Jaja’s African Hair Braiding) set to direct. The story follows the life of orphaned Beth Harmon, a fictional American chess prodigy on her rise to the top of the chess world while struggling with emotional problems, drug and alcohol dependency.
Mitski
From author Walter Tevis' 1983 novel, the story was adapted into a 2020 Netflix seven-episode miniseries, starring Anya Taylor-Joy. It went on to win eleven Primetime Emmy Awards and Taylor-Joy also picked up Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards.
"Before [producers] Level Forward even brought the idea of making a musical of The Queen’s Gambit, I was a fan of the Netflix show, and an even greater fan of the original novel," said Mitski in a statement. "So I was already determined to be a member of this team. And then I met Eboni and Whitney, and my determination grew tenfold! I absolutely had to be a part of this! I am ecstatic to get to work with all of these amazing creatives, who've each built beautiful and unique repertoires of their own."
'The Queen's Gambit' (2020) with Anya Taylor-Joy (r)
Mitski released her latest album The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are We on September 15 and begins her North American tour January 26 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Details about the musical's world premiere production will be announced at a later date.
