Last summer at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event it was announced that The Greatest Showman would be making its way to the stage. At the time, there was only a little information known about this stage adaptation of the musical. Most of the announcements focused on the performance of The Greatest Show. It was revealed that the show would utilize the Academy Award-nominated songs by Emmy, GRAMMY, Oscar, and Tony winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen, Disney’s forthcoming film Snow White) with promises about more details coming later. The stage adaptation will include familiar songs and also some new songs.
A Production Team Takes Form
Now, more details have been revealed for The Greatest Showman. The show has found its director-choreographer and also a book writer. The Greatest Showman will be directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winning Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Disney’s Aladdin, Mean Girls, and the upcoming production of Disney’s Hercules, opening at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in June). The book is being written by Emmy nominee Tim Federle (Ferdinand, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Tuck Everlasting).
The new stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman, based on the 2017 smash-hit film will premiere in the United Kingdom at the Bristol Hippodrome in Spring 2026. Dates and casting will be announced at a later date.
The Greatest Showman
The Greatest Showman was released in 2017 and stars Hugh Jackman. The film was inspired by the ambition and imagination of P.T. Barnum and celebrates the birth of show business and dreams coming to life. Barnum was a visionary who rose from nothing to create the “Greatest Show on Earth.”Barnum grew up in the early 1800s and displayed a natural talent for publicity and promotion. He sold lottery tickets by age 12 and after trying his hands at various jobs, he turned to show business to indulge his limitless imagination. He rose from nothing to eventually create the Barnum & Bailey circus. This show featured catchy musical numbers, exotic performers, and daring acrobatic feats. Barnum’s mesmerizing spectacle soon takes the world by storm to become the greatest show on Earth.
The Greatest Showman is the first 20th Century Fox film to be adapted for the stage by Disney. Fox Stage Productions was taken over by Disney Theatrical Productions after The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of the assets of 21st Century Fox in March 2019.
Prior to the announcement of The Greatest Showman being in development, Disney Theatrical premiered Frozen on Broadway in 2018. However, the show did not return after the pandemic forced all Broadway shows to close for 18 months. Disney has also had other Broadway shows including Aida, Tarzan, Mary Poppins, Newsies, and more. Most shows have gone on from Broadway to national tours and international productions.
Are you excited about this stage adaptation? Do you want to see it on stage in the United Kingdom?
