‘Fyre Festival The Musical’ apparently coming to Broadway from Taika Waititi & music by Paul Epworth

Yes, this does sound like an article from a satirical newspaper but apparently it’s true: Deadline reports they’re making a Broadway musical about the disastrous Fyre Music Festival. Not only that, but it’s being produced by Oscar winning filmmaker Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok) and directed by in-demand commercial-maker Bryan Buckley, with music by super-producer Paul Epworth (Adele, Bloc Party, Skyfall) and set design by Hamilton designer David Korins. That’s  a lot of talent for something that will likely involve goats, Ja Rule and cheese sandwiches.

Here’s the official synopsis: “It’s not just a Greek-sized tragedy of one man’s con. It’s a satirical indictment of an entire generation. Fyre Fest the Musical. It’s about as wrong as a bad idea can go.”

“Working in the theater is always fun,” Waititi said in a statement. “I mean I haven’t done it for 15 years because it was no longer fun, but I’ve been told it will be fun this time. And I believe them. When Bryan Buckley told me he wanted to make a musical about the Fyre Festival, I said ‘Who the hell is Bryan Buckley?’ I then remembered we’ve been friends and work mates for 15 years so it was kinda hard to say no. Honestly, I think the idea is exciting, weird, and potentially disastrous, which seems apt and is how I like to work. I can’t wait to get started and snatch me some of that sweet American theatre money.”

Also part of the production will be Waititi’s wife, singer Rita Ora, who has worked UK editions of The Voice and The Masked Singer.

Fyre Festival: The Musical was announced today at an NYC launch on a barge docked at New York Harbor and Deadline reports that “various guerilla art installations for Fyre will take place in New York City throughout the week.”

Are we being punked? There don’t appear to be any photos from this launch event. If they announce at the end of the week this has all been an elaborate prank by Waititi it will not be a surprise, but if not…it can’t go any worse that the actual Fyre Fest itself. Stay tuned.