Disney Theatrical Group has revealed plans for a new stage musical based on its hit movie The Greatest Showman.
The announcement came last night, 9 August 2024, at their annual D23 Disney fan event in California, where the media company celebrated the 30th anniversary of its theatrical stage division with a variety of special performances and exclusive announcements.
The long-awaited confirmation of The Greatest Showman The New Musical comes as a relief to the movie’s legions of fans, and has been much-rumoured as in development as a stage musical.
Last October news leaked that Disney had held a workshop in the US for the new show earlier in 2023, and a number of workshops are believed to have taken place since.
And where will The Great Showman have its world premiere? It seems that London is the first choice – with a rumoured London premiere at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 2026, directed by Casey Nicholaw – see below for details.
The stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman, featuring the Academy Award-nominated songs of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, has promised to firm-up its production timetable, creative team, and cast at a later date.
The 2017 movie of The Greatest Showman was directed by Michael Gracey, written by Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon based on a story by Jenny Bicks, and had original songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The film starred Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya.
This is the moment you’ve waited for. 🎩✨ A stage adaptation of THE GREATEST SHOWMAN is currently in development by Disney Theatrical Group.pic.twitter.com/hYh8tbr4FK
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) August 10, 2024
West End’s Frozen to stream on Disney+
Highlights of Disney’s D23 show included performances from Disney on Broadway, including Disney’s The Lion King, and Aladdin, Hercules, and a special performance of “Let It Go” sung live by our very own Samantha Barks, who is currently starring as Elsa in the West End production of Frozen, until 8 September 2024.
Disney announced that Frozen has been filmed in London and will premiere on their Disney+ streaming platform in 2025.
Read more about Frozen coming to Disney+ here.
Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular
The announcement of the new stage musical of The Greatest Showman is not to be confused with new show Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular, coming to London next month.
This new show will play a pop-up circus venue at the Empress Museum in London from 23 September 2024, and is a circus experience inspired by The Greatest Showman movie.
Come Alive! will feature the hit songs from the blockbuster movie including The Greatest Show, Never Enough, Come Alive, This Is Me, and From Now On, but will have a completely separate story and characters.
The Greatest Showman rumours
It has long been rumoured that Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen), who wrote the original songs for The Greatest Showman movie, are heavily involved in the project.
A number of rumours have popped up over the past few weeks of further workshops held for The Greatest Showman The New Musical in London, with Pasek and Paul believed to have been in town. Names attached to the workshops, although not confirmed, include Samantha Barks (Frozen, Oliver!, Les Miserables), and Oliver Tompsett (& Juliet, In Dreams).
New rumours today, 10 August 2024, from the New York Post suggest that the show will play the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London in 2026, directed by Casey Nicholaw (Aladdin, The Book of Mormon), who is also helming the 2025 production of Hercules at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
It is also rumoured that the show will have a pre-West End try-out at the Bristol Hippodrome in early 2026.
The IP for The Greatest Showman has come to Disney via their acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019, including 21st Century’s vast catalogue of movies and associated rights.
The Cast of The Greatest Showman – The New Musical! #D23 pic.twitter.com/gUiCtYvRGn
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) August 10, 2024
There have been big changes at Disney Theatrical Group lately, the US and international producers of Disney’s stage musicals including London mega-hit Disney’s The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, the current UK & Ireland tour of Disney’s Aladdin, and the forthcoming Disney presentation of Hercules, coming to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane next year, from June 2025.
Veteran Disney president of theatrical, Thomas Schumacher, 65, has stepped down and into a new creative role within the organisation, as Chief Creative Officer. His two deputies, Anne Quart and Andrew Flatt, jointly run the division, with Anne Quart as Executive Vice President Producing and Development and Executive Producer, and Andrew Flatt as Executive Vice President Producing and Development and Managing Director.
Schumacher has built up Disney Theatrical Productions, now Group, from the start of the business, and became the division’s President in 1999. He has worked closely with London-based producer Cameron Mackintosh over a number of years, primarily over their shared producing of Mary Poppins The Musical.
More about The Greatest Showman The New Musical
Book tickets to The Lion King in London
Book tickets to Frozen in London
Book tickets to Aladdin – UK & Ireland Tour
More about tickets to Hercules in London
More about tickets to Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular in London
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