A new Grateful Dead musical titled Red Roses, Green Gold is coming to off-Broadway, with the shows first opening to the public on October 29th. The project has garnered attention from Deadheads, both for its subject matter but also for the show’s musical director, Jeff Chimenti, a longtime collaborator with members of the Grateful Dead with credits such as the current keys virtuoso for Dead & Company and formerly of Bob Weir’s RatDog. Recently, in a new interview with Newsday, Chimenti took the time to talk about Red Roses, Green Gold, which deviates from the jam-heavy live setting most fans are used to seeing him in.

The New Grateful Dead Musical, ‘Red Roses, Green Gold’, Is Opening In October!

While the interview tends to ask questions designed for those who may not be as familiar with the Grateful Dead, Jeff Chimenti still gave some insight into what Deadheads can look forward to from this new project. In the interview, Chimenti explains how he became involved in Red Roses, Green Gold, noting, “They said they were looking for someone to give guidance and keep the Grateful Dead music authentic. This isn’t trying to be a Grateful Dead cover band. There’s a story here. It’s my job to make sure the music is represented as properly as possible.”

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Red Roses, Green Gold has been described as a “ musical comedy, featuring the music of THE GRATEFUL DEAD- a semi-fantastical and immersive Americana tale of the Jones family in 1920’s Cumberland, Maryland, as they con, swindle and gamble their way into riches.” As for musical choices to accompany this plot, Chimenti explained “The bulk of the material comes from the studio records Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty, albums that came early in the Grateful Dead’s career,” though “Some songs are shortened, to go along with the story.”

Hilariously, to close out the interview, Jeff Chimenti elaborated on what he’s found to be the biggest differences between the musical theater world and the live music world, “I’m blown away by the talent it takes in theater. The performers have to learn the music and dialogue — then the story gets changed the next day and they have to relearn it all. I guess the way they sometimes improvise . . . it’s like how musicians riff. But the big difference is how organized the theater world is. Like with the schedule — if they say, “Here’s the start time,” or “This is when we’ll take a break,” then that’s the start time, that’s the break. In music . . . well . . . . [He laughs.] There’s a potential start time, but who knows when the concert’s gonna start.”

You can read the full interview for yourself here. Red Roses, Green Gold opens at New York City’s Minetta Lane Theatre on October 29th. Prices for this Grateful Dead-inspired Broadway show will range from $58 to $88 dollars, though premium tickets will be available for $125 dollars.

[Photo: Jay Blakesberg]