Exclusive Interview: Noah J. Ricketts Talks ‘The Great Gatsby’ Musical, Celebrating Ten Years Since He Came to New York to Find His Green Light, and More

The Broadway Theatre is ablaze with excitement as the party roars on with the musical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Noah J. Ricketts shines brilliantly in his portrayal of Nick Carraway, who serves as the narrator and pivotal observer of the extravagant world of Jay Gatsby, infusing the role with flair, humor, and profound depth.

Set in the summer of 1922, the story follows Nick Carraway, a young man who moves to Long Island, New York, to work in the bonds business and becomes neighbors with Jay Gatsby—an eccentric and mysterious millionaire known for throwing extravagant parties.

Gatsby throws these bashes as an attempt to win the affection of Daisy Buchanan, Nick’s married cousin who lives across the bay, for whom Gatsby has long harbored a deep love.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Noah about originating the role of Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, bringing his interpretation of the character to life on the stage, and celebrating ten years since he first stepped on the Broadway stage and finding his green light.

PC: Like many, your relationship with the source material has evolved over time. What does it feel like to revisit this beloved story in adulthood after experiencing a bit of life? How has your connection to it evolved?
Noah: Definitely. Like most people, I was required to read the book in high school. I remember not having a deep connection to the characters and not seeing myself reflected in any of them. To be honest, I think I read The Great Gatsby a bit too early in life because upon revisiting it for this production, the themes resonated deeply with me. The wealth divide is one of the novel’s central themes, and that has really stayed with me, especially since moving to New York.

I’ll never forget the moment when I moved to New York at twenty-one with only a couple of hundred dollars in my pocket and big dreams, and seeing the wealth and class dynamics around me. It was a sobering experience. The biggest change is that life teaches you about dreams and pursuing things beyond your means, and then there’s the reality of how to make that happen. Revisiting The Great Gatsby through that adult lens is a daunting but realistic prospect when it comes to this amazing text.

PC: That’s a great answer. Bringing a beloved novel to the stage is such a unique experience. Audiences come in with a starting point, but it’s up to the creative team and the cast to bring something new. As you brought your version of this production and interpretation of this character, what’s something you wanted to ensure was translated from page to screen? What’s something new that you brought to it?
Noah: When I started on this journey of playing Nick, it was really important to me to make him an active player in the story and not just an outside observer. I fought to ensure that Nick’s arc was present—his motivations, his relationship with Jordan, his interactions with Gatsby, and even his familial struggles with his cousin Daisy. I wanted him to be an active player in this narrative alongside everyone else. Additionally, I wanted the audience to witness his journey from arriving in New York, experiencing the sobering reality of the city, to his decision to return to Saint Paul, Minnesota.

PC: You’ve built such an illustrious career in film, television, and theater, but this is the first time that you’ve originated a role. How different is that experience? Having been a part of this production for so long, is there a memory that stands out?
Noah: You know what’s funny? I have an app on my phone called Time Hop. I recently saw a photo of the first reading of the script that I did, about two years ago with just the producers and a private group of people. There’s really nothing like creating a character from the ground up and seeing it through to Broadway. It’s such a special process, and one that I hope many actors get to experience because you really get to put your own personal stamp on the character and make important decisions about the character’s essence, even if it extends beyond you. That’s what I’ll take away—how special it is to create something from the beginning. I was able to infuse my own life, blood, and experiences of coming from Louisville, Kentucky to New York City into the character.

PC: I also forgot how dark this story is, but your character brings a lot of humor, which was a brilliant decision to incorporate. What has it been like working with the creative team to find those moments of levity, especially as you’ve transitioned from Paper Mill to Broadway?
Noah: Yeah, the flip side of all the drama is that humor and fun. That’s something I discussed with our book writer. I never wanted the audience to forget that Nick’s experiencing New York for the first time. It’s a memory all New Yorkers cherish—the overwhelming first impression of the city. Through that lens, we found moments of humor and levity. It required a lot of fine-tuning. It’s amazing how audiences differ from New Jersey to New York.

In New Jersey, we had a vocal, reactive audience. In New York, the response was different. It took them some time to connect with us. Some jokes landed that didn’t in New Jersey. It’s all about refining. I have to give credit to the creative team—they’ve been incredibly supportive, allowing us to experiment and explore every possibility.

PC: Nick is very much the eyes and ears into this world for the audiences, which is an interesting parallel to the work that you do on stage where it’s about reacting to your scene partners and every night is different. How much do the performances of your fellow actors and the audience influence your own?
Noah: It really does. That’s the special thing about live theater. The performance ebbs and flows based on audience reactions and the vibes in the theater itself. A Saturday night feels very different from a Wednesday matinee. During matinees, we often have students in the audience who are lively and vocal—they’re right there with us on the journey. On Saturdays, it’s typically an older crowd enjoying a night out. Our ensemble is incredible. They’re all sharp. Everyone listens and responds truthfully, allowing the show to evolve naturally night after night.

PC: Having been a part of this production for so long, is there a number that you look forward to performing each night? Has that changed throughout the run?
Noah: It has definitely changed. There have been some cuts and additions since we first did the show out of town to Broadway. The one I consistently look forward to is “New Money,” where Nick arrives at Gatsby’s first party. I love that number because I get to experience this incredible event in real time. The dancers swirl around me, there are pyrotechnics, cars arriving, and champagne flowing. I love it because I truly get to be the observer in that moment. Every day, I look forward to seeing our incredible ensemble bring their energy and vibe to the stage.

PC: June marks your tenth anniversary on Broadway. Congratulations, by the way. How has this community influenced you as a storyteller? How has your work on the stage influenced your work on screen and vice versa?
Noah: Wow, thank you for reminding me. I started on Broadway at twenty-one, just two weeks after arriving in New York City. What a whirlwind adventure it’s been. The theater community has been so welcoming and supportive, and I’ve learned so much about the craft of acting through workshops, readings, and performances on stage.

There’s nothing quite like the immersion of theater. Denzel Washington has said that if you want to learn to act, you have to do theater. Over these past ten years, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to grow from a swing to ensemble roles and now leading a show. The amazing actors I’ve worked with during this time have profoundly shaped me as an artist.

To keep up with Noah, follow him on Instagram. The Great Gatsby is playing at the Broadway Theatre now.