Duncan Sheik’s American Psycho Will Slay London Audiences Beginning in December

Looks like Christmas in London is going to be a lot more dangerous as serial killer Patrick Bateman makes his stage debut. The musical adaptation of the thriller American Psycho will play the Almeida Theatre December 3 through January 25. Featuring music and lyrics by two-time Tony Award winner Duncan Sheik and a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, the world premiere production of American Psycho will be directed by Rupert Goold (Enron, Oliver!). No casting has been announced.

Based on the 1991 novel by Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho is the story of Patrick Bateman, a successful and handsome businessman living the high life in 1980s New York City. He indulges in the most expensive designer clothes, the most exclusive restaurants, the hottest clubs...and murder. The book was adapted into a film in 2000 starring Christian Bale. The musical is described as “a bloody satire.”

American Psycho will include set design by Es Devlin, lighting by Jon Clark, sound design by Paul Arditti, choreography by Lynne Page and musical direction by David Shrubsole. The show is an Almeida co-production with Headlong in association with David Johnson and Jesse Singer for Act 4 Entertainment. 

Sheik earned Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations for Spring Awakening. His musical Whisper House premiered at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre. As a singer-songwriter, Sheik’s 1996 single “Barely Breathing” spent 55 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Aguirre-Sacasa made his Broadway debut as the co-writer of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. His plays include Good Boys and True and Based on a Totally True Story. For four seasons, Aguirre-Sacasa served as a staff writer for HBO's Big Love and currently produces and writes for Glee.