Greatest Showman stage musical to open in London's West End next spring

Disney Theatrical Group announced on Saturday that a stage adaptation of the 2017 film musical The Greatest Showman will premiere in London's West End next spring. The production will be staged at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, a venue with which Disney has a long association, having previously hosted stage versions of The Lion King and Frozen. The announcement was made by Anne Quart and Andrew Flatt from Disney Theatrical Group, who expressed excitement about returning to the historic theatre, calling it a "special homecoming."

The cast includes Oliver Tompsett as P.T. Barnum, Samantha Barks as Charity Barnum, Ben Joyce as Phillip Carlyle, Vajèn van den Bosch as Jenny Lind, and Malinda Parris as Lettie Lutz. Further casting will be announced in the coming months. The production will feature songs from the film, such as "The Greatest Show," "A Million Dreams," "Come Alive," "Rewrite the Stars," "Never Enough," and "This Is Me," along with new music written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who composed the original soundtrack. The book is by Tim Federle, and the direction and choreography are by Casey Nicholaw, a two-time Tony Award winner.

The announcement highlights the global success of the film, which earned nearly $500 million at the box office and featured a record-breaking soundtrack. The stage adaptation aims to capture the film's emotional and exuberant spirit, celebrating outsiders and dreamers. The creative team emphasized that the score, while rooted in classic traditions, feels contemporary and destined for the stage. The production is expected to attract audiences who loved the film and introduce the story to new theatergoers.