Toronto dancers join Los Angeles-based Mixed eMotion Theatrix for the site-specific production on Toronto’s waterfront
Gatsby Redux
Gatsby Redux
Toronto, Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Following its Harbourfront Centre debut last year, Gatsby Redux returns September 26 and 27, transforming Toronto’s waterfront into the world of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby through dance, music and movement.
Created by Los Angeles-based Mixed eMotion Theatrix and led by award-winning director and choreographer Janet Roston, Gatsby Redux takes audiences beyond the traditional theatre experience. There is no stage or theatre seat. Instead, the cast makes its entrance by water, arriving at Harbourfront Centre by boat before leading audiences on a journey across the campus.
Moving seamlessly between indoor and outdoor spaces, the performance unfolds through the waterfront, architecture and changing environment, turning the entire site into the stage and creating a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience.
Set to a fusion of classic jazz and Electro Swing, the production revisits Fitzgerald’s familiar story through a contemporary lens, inviting audiences to experience the characters and their complex relationships in new ways.
“The Great Gatsby is a story people think they know, but there are so many layers within it that can be explored through movement,” says Janet Roston, Director and Choreographer of Gatsby Redux and Artistic Director of Mixed eMotion Theatrix. “The work looks at questions of class, status, belonging and the American Dream through a contemporary lens, while also exploring the complexity and intimacy of relationships within the novel, particularly between Gatsby and Nick. Dance gives us the freedom to bring some of those unspoken connections to the surface while still allowing audiences to interpret them for themselves.”
Returning this year, at least four Toronto dancers will join the visiting Los Angeles company, bringing local and international artists together for the production. The Toronto dancers are learning the choreography remotely, then coming together with Roston and the full company for a single day of in-person rehearsal before the performances.
“Bringing Gatsby Redux back gives us an opportunity to build on what made the experience so special last year, while creating something new for Toronto audiences,” says Diana Webley, Arts and Culture Manager, Harbourfront Centre. “The production reflects the kind of artistic exchange we want to support at Harbourfront Centre, connecting artists from our community with artists from around the world. With the waterfront itself becoming part of the performance, it’s an experience that feels uniquely at home here.”
Audiences are encouraged to embrace the spirit of the Jazz Age with 1920s-inspired attire and comfortable shoes as they follow the performers across the campus.
Event Details
Dates: Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27, 2026
Time: 6–7:30 p.m.
Location: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Media Opportunities
Media interested in previewing Gatsby Redux are invited to attend the full-company dress rehearsal on September 25, with opportunities for interviews, photography and filming. Media accreditation is also available for performances on September 26 and 27.
Interviews with Director and Choreographer Janet Roston can be arranged upon request.
About Harbourfront Centre
Harbourfront Centre is Toronto’s waterfront community campus for arts, culture, learning and recreation. Spanning a 10-acre campus at the heart of Toronto’s central waterfront, it is a registered, charitable not-for-profit cultural organization that offers year-round programs and events accessible to all audiences. The organization champions established and emerging Canadian artists across varied disciplines and serves as a recreational hub for more than 6.3 million annual visitors. Whether hailing from across the street or around the globe, Harbourfront Centre offers memorable and meaningful experiences for all who visit.
www.harbourfrontcentre.com
Attachments
- Gatsby Redux
- Gatsby Redux
CONTACT: Morganne Campbell Harbourfront Centre 4377714562 [email protected]
