From Disney to Broadway: China Anne McClain Steps Into 'The Great Gatsby' This August

China Anne McClain’s next chapter is about to begin on one of the world’s most famous stages. The actress who captured our hearts in Disney’s‘A.N.T. Farm’and appeared in multiple‘Descendants’films is making her Broadway debut on August 3, 2026, in the musical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s‘The Great Gatsby.’She’ll be stepping into the role of Daisy Buchanan, one of literature’s most complex and iconic characters, taking over from Eva Noblezada who performs her final show on July 26. At 27 years old, McClain is at a point in her career where she’s ready to prove herself on theater’s biggest stage, and all signs suggest Broadway is ready for her.

What makes this casting announcement even more exciting is the company she’s keeping. Corbin Bleu, known for playing Troy Bolton in‘High School Musical,’is already established in the production as Nick Carraway, the story’s narrator. Ryan McCartan, a Broadway star from the hit musical‘Wicked,’plays Jay Gatsby opposite McClain. Recently, the cast expanded to include Naturi Naughton from the television series‘Power’and the R&B group 3LW, who plays Jordan Baker in her first Broadway role in twenty years. These aren’t unknowns trying their luck—they’re proven performers taking their careers to the next level.

The Great Gatsby musical itself has been a commercial powerhouse since opening on Broadway in 2024, selling over 1 million tickets across more than 900 performances. That kind of staying power tells audiences that this adaptation resonates with modern viewers, and it gives McClain and her fellow cast members a stage that’s already proven successful. For anyone who’s followed these actors’careers, August 3 marks a moment worth paying attention to. What’s your favorite China Anne McClain role, and do you think she’ll bring something new to Daisy Buchanan?