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Luke Newton is stepping into the world of fashion with some major shoes to fill. The actor, who broke through on the Regency-era Netflix series Bridgerton, has joined the cast of Darrah Cloud’s House of McQueen as the titular Lee Alexander McQueen. The off-Broadway production following the life and career of the famed designer will open at the Mansion at Hudson Yards later this summer.
“It is our absolute pleasure to announce Luke’s involvement with House of McQueen,” executive producer Rick Lazes said, per Deadline. “We can’t think of anyone better suited to bring Lee’s story to life than this incredibly impressive multi-hyphenate.” Newton revealed news of the role on Instagram, where he posted three photos of McQueen, who died in 2010 at the age of 40.
“It is the story of a boy born in the east end of London, who literally wears his heart on his sleeve, never meant to rise beyond his working-class family,” an official synopsis of the play reads. “From making doll clothes for his mother’s friends to working in a tailor shop, he rises to the top of the fashion industry as chief designer for Givenchy and head of his own legendary fashion line, as his fashion shows become theatrical and artistic spectacles, attracting countless celebrities.”
It continues: “Seeking to find beauty in the most devastating aspects of life, McQueen envisions and creates clothes to empower women in response to what is happening in his life and the world around him. Fighting against the commercial interests of legendary houses like Givenchy and Gucci to remain provocative, he challenges norms and pushes boundaries as an artist. In the end, the fight consumes him.”
House of McQueen was written by Cloud and will be directed by Sam Helfrich. It will be the first production to grace the stage at The Mansion, which will open for previews on Aug. 19 and officially begin on Sept. 9. Newton’s return to theater follows his stints in the West End production of The Book of Mormon and Neil LaBute’s The Shape of Things.
