Key Takeaways
- Production Announcement: Disney Theatrical Group confirmed the stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman will debut in spring 2027.
- Main Cast: Oliver Tompsett and Samantha Barks will star as P.T. Barnum and Charity Barnum, respectively.
- Musical Score: The original songwriters, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, will return to create the score for the stage version.
- Signature Songs: The production will feature popular songs from the film alongside new music specifically for the stage.
The Greatest Showman is heading to London’s West End.
On Friday (Aug. 14), Disney Theatrical Group announced that the stage adaptation of the hit 2017 film will open at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in spring 2027.
The announcement follows the production’s sold-out world premiere run earlier this year at Bristol Hippodrome. The news was revealed during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
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The West End production will star Oliver Tompsett as P.T. Barnum, with Samantha Barks as his wife, Charity Barnum. The principal cast also includes Ben Joyce as Phillip Carlyle, Vajèn van den Bosch as Jenny Lind and Malinda Parris as Lettie Lutz. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
The musical is based on the 2017 film starring Hugh Jackman as Barnum, who goes from being unemployed and struggling to creating a spectacular circus that eventually grows into the famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
The film’s soundtrack became a major commercial success, spending two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2018. The album features songs performed by the film’s cast, including Jackman, Barks, Zac Efron, Zendaya, Michelle Williams and Keala Settle.
The movie’s “This Is Me” also won the Golden Globe for best original song in 2018.
The West End production will bring back the film’s signature songs, including “The Greatest Show,” “A Million Dreams,” “Come Alive,” “Rewrite the Stars,” “Never Enough” and “This Is Me,” while introducing new music created specifically for the stage musical.
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who wrote the film’s songs, will return to write the stage production’s score. Tim Federle is penning the book, while Casey Nicholaw will direct and choreograph, according to Variety.
