Picnic at Hanging Rock: The Musical premieres off Broadway in December

The musical will run form 16th December to 17th January

The haunting Australian classic returns to the stage this winter as a new musical adaptation, Picnic at Hanging Rock: The Musical, makes its Off-Broadway debut at New York’s Greenwich House Theatre. Previews begin 16 December, with a press opening on 18 December, and the run will continue through 17 January 2026.

Based on the 1967 novel by Joan Lindsay — and evoking the eerie 1975 film version directed by Peter Weir — the musical reimagines the story of a group of teenage schoolgirls whose harmless picnic on Valentine’s Day, 1900, at the remote wilderness of Hanging Rock ends in mystery. Three girls vanish without a trace, their disappearance sending shockwaves through their community.

This new production brings a fresh, female-centered perspective. The book and lyrics are by Hilary Bell, with music and arrangements by Greta Gertler Gold. Direction is by Portia Krieger, choreography by Mayte Natalio. The cast features lead performances by Tatianna Córdoba and Erin Davie, with a supporting ensemble that brings to life the many voices of this unsettling narrative.

What makes this adaptation particularly compelling is how it leverages music, atmosphere, and ensemble performance to reawaken the story’s sense of dreamlike dread. The Rock itself — an imposing natural presence in the Australian landscape — becomes almost a character: mysterious, beautiful, and terrifying. The musical promises to explore themes of innocence lost, repression, and the unsettling mysteries of nature and psyche.

As audiences settle into the Greenwich House Theatre this December, Picnic at Hanging Rock: The Musical offers a rare chance to experience this dark, evocative tale anew — in song, shadow, and silence.