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One hundred years ago, F. Scott Fitzgerald enchanted readers with a tale of love, lust, wealth and woe. As The Great Gatsby celebrates its centennial, the Empire State Building will light up green in honor of the green light that Jay Gatsby famously watches over the water.
On April 11, Broadway stars will flip the ceremonial switch to light the Empire State Building in green, so keep an eye out for the glowing light in the sky, just like Jay Gatsby would have. This celebration is part of many more Gatsby-themed events across NYC this month that celebrate Fitzgerald's landmark novel published on April 10, 1925.
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At the Friday, April 11 private event, Blake Hazard, great-granddaughter of F. Scott Fitzgerald, will speak. Then, Ryan McCartan and Sarah Hyland, actors from The Great Gatsby musical who portray Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan will pull the ceremonial switch.
In case you haven't read the book—or seen the movie or watched the Broadway play—the green light plays an important role in the story. Its symbolic green hue represents Gatbsy's yearning for Daisy and his quest for the American dream. That's why it's so special that the green light will illuminate midtown Manhattan.
As Gatsby says in the book: "If it wasn't for the mist we could see your home across the bay. You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock."