Moby-Dick (2019 musical)

Moby-Dick is a 2019 musical adaptation of Herman Melville's 1851 novel of the same name, with music and lyrics by Dave Malloy and a book by Rachel Chavkin, based on conceptions by Malloy, Chavkin, and Or Matias. The musical premiered at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in December 2019, directed by Chavkin.

The musical reimagines the crew of the Pequod as being composed entirely of women and non-binary individuals. It retains the central plot elements of the novel, focusing on Captain Ahab's obsessive quest to hunt the white whale, Moby Dick, and the disastrous consequences of that pursuit. The score blends a variety of musical genres, including art rock, electronic music, and sea shanties, to create a unique and contemporary soundscape.

Critical reception to the musical was mixed to positive, with reviewers often praising the ambitious scope and inventive staging, while some found the adaptation unwieldy or felt it lost some of the novel's nuance. Key creative team members aside from Malloy and Chavkin included scenic designer Mimi Lien, costume designer Brenda Abbandandolo, and lighting designer Bradley King. The original cast featured notable performers in the roles of Ahab, Starbuck, and Ishmael.