Moby-Dick, a new musical written and composed by Dave Malloy, directed by Rachel Chavkin, follows the tale of Ishmael, a young, sprightly man, as he boards the whaling ship, the Pequod. Once aboard, Ishmael meets the various crew members who hope to profit from this lucrative business. The crew consists of first mate Starbuck, second mate Stubb, and third mate Flask. In the book, these characters are all white men, though this theatrical adaptation casts these characters differently. The mates oversee the harpooners, Fedallah, Queequeg, Tashtego, and Daggoo. In the book, these characters are composites of specific indigenous and non- European cultures from around the world, a choice which this adaptation honors. There are also a number of other characters on the boat including

a carpenter, a blacksmith, and a young, Black cabin boy named Pip. Captain Ahab leads this diverse crew on an obsessive quest for revenge on Moby Dick, a giant white sperm whale. On a previous voyage, Ahab’s leg was taken by Moby Dick, spurring his quest for revenge. As Ahab pursues Moby Dick across the oceans, the crew of the Pequod and passing ships warn the captain of

the danger of his quest. These warnings do not calm Ahab’s lust for revenge; ultimately, Ahab leads his ship and crew to complete wreckage. An illustration of the final chase in Moby-Dick.