Every day is opening night.

Press Contacts:

Rick Miramontez / Evie Freeman / Sam Corbett
rick@omdkc.com / evie@omdkc.com / sam@omdkc.com
212 695 7400

Geralyn Lucas
geralynlucas@gmail.com
917 499 1409

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE

AMERICAN HISTORY UNBOUND’S
“THE GREAT WAR & THE GREAT GATSBY”
TAKES CARNEGIE HALL STAGE TO STANDING OVATION

PHOTOS AND VIDEO FROM THE EVENT
NOW AVAILABLE

PERFORMANCES TO BE TELEVISED THIS FALL THANKS TO THE GENEROUS
SUPPORT OF CITADEL FOUNDER AND CEO KENNETH C. GRIFFIN
AND GRIFFIN CATALYST

John Monsky at Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s conducted by Ian Weinberger

Photos by Nina Westervelt; video by Gene Griffin and Jake Primmerman

To download photos from the evenings, please click here.

Video excerpts are available to news outlets upon request.

New York, New York (April 23, 2025) – Following his sold-out 2023 performance of The Great War & The Great Gatsby, historian and narrator John Monsky returned to Carnegie Hall on Monday and Tuesday nights to rousing acclaim and another full house. Joined by a cast of Broadway stars, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and a special appearance from Broadway Inspirational Voices, the event brought history to life onstage for the rapt audience, which included Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall Clive Gillinson, Katie Couric, Peter Cincotti, members of the Harlem Hellfighters, and supportive parents Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, cheering on cast member Gracie McGraw. Also making special appearances were descendants of some of the historical figures in the program, including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Reese Europe, President Harry S. Truman, Irving Berlin, as well as Medal of Honor recipient Captain Jack H. Jacobs. Photos from the performances are now available for download at the following link. Video clips are available to news outlets upon request.

Directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), this newly reimagined production—equal parts concert, suspense, drama, romance, tribute, and exhibition of rare and iconic images and film from the National Archives—brought fresh insights, newly uncovered research, and additional musical selections to create a vivid and emotionally powerful journey for this musical and visual exploration of World War I.

Joining Monsky onstage were Adam Chanler-Berat (Next to Normal), Nicholas Christopher (Hamilton), Micaela Diamond (Parade), Gracie McGraw (Babe at The New Group), and Diego Andres Rodriguez (Sunset Boulevard). Ian Weinberger (Hamilton) served as music supervisor, conductor, and arranger. Trey Ellett is associate director, with Emily Maltby as choreographer. Casting by Jim Carnahan, CSA and Liz Fraser, CSA.

The Great War & The Great Gatsby will be released for broadcast via an upcoming televised event thanks to the generous support of Citadel founder and CEO Kenneth C. Griffin and his civic engagement initiative Griffin Catalyst. With the aim of “Catalyzing American Achievement,” one of Griffin Catalyst’s six priority areas is Freedom & Democracy, core ideas enshrined in John Monsky’s creative work at American History Unbound.

“The bravery and sacrifice of American service men and women during the World Wars reflect a heroic commitment to our nation’s values,” said Griffin. “I’m proud to support the stories of American History Unbound so that current and future generations can appreciate the sacrifices made to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.”

Details regarding the performance’s broadcast will be announced soon.

P R O D U C T I O N  C R E D I T S

The Great War & The Great Gatsby is produced by American History Unbound Inc. John Monsky is writer, creator, narrator and executive producer. Michael Mayer is director. Trey Ellett is associate director. Emily Maltby is choreographer. Kelsey Burns is associate choreographer. Meredith Wagner is executive producer. Bethany Weinstein Stewert is production manager. Rick Miramontez, Alexander Diaz and Gene Graham are producers. Eric Duran is media producer. Reece dos Santos is associate producer. Josephine Hurshell-Hobson is assistant producer. Casting is by Jim Carnahan, CSA and Liz Fraser, CSA.

A B O U T  A M E R I C A N  H I S T O R Y  U N B O U N D

The American History Unbound series combines live music, performed by leading orchestras and celebrated Broadway actors, lecture, photographs and film from the National Archives, historic American flags, and material culture to explore watershed moments in American history.

These symphonic and visual journeys through history are commissioned by the Carnegie Hall Presents series. Created and narrated by historian John Monsky, programs to date have explored the Vietnam War, the race to the moon, D-Day, and World War I.

These works have been presented at Carnegie Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center Opera House, The New York Historical, Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, New York, Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida, Yale University, New York University’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts and the New York Stock Exchange.

In December 2024, The Eyes of the World: From Day to VE Day was performed in the East Room of The White House for veterans. A performance with the legendary Boston Pops is currently streaming on PBS.org.

American History Unbound Inc. is a 501(c)(3). www.americanhistoryunbound.com

A B O U T   G R I F F I N   C A T A L Y S T

Griffin Catalyst is the civic engagement initiative of Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin, encompassing his philanthropic and community impact efforts. Tackling the world’s greatest challenges in innovative, action-oriented, and evidence-driven ways, Griffin Catalyst is dedicated to expanding opportunity and improving lives across six areas of focus: Education, Science & Medicine, Upward Mobility, Freedom & Democracy, Enterprise & Innovation, and Communities. For more information, visit griffincatalyst.org.

# # # #

www.omdkc.com
www.instagram.com/omdkc/
www.facebook.com/omdkc
bsky.app/profile/omdkc.bsky.social