The Greatest ShowmanStage Musical Adaptation Sets Debut and Open Casting Search for Stars!

Mar. 15, 2025

Hugh Jackman in ‘The Greatest Showman’.Photo:20th Century Fox

20th Century Fox

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On Wednesday, March 5, Disney Theatrical Group announced the world premiere ofthe highly anticipated stage musical adaptation ofThe Greatest Showman, the beloved 2017 movie about the the life of P. T. Barnum and his creation of the Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Performances begin at ATG Entertainment’s Bristol Hippodrome in the United Kingdom in Spring 2026. Broadway dates are expected to follow.

The Greatest Showman' songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul at the London opening of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ in November 2019.Jeff Spicer/Getty

Jeff Spicer/Getty

Actor turned scribeTim Federlewill pen the musical’s book. He’s the Emmy nominee behindHigh School Musical: The Musical: The Series,Better Nate Than Everand Broadway’sTuck Everlasting.

The acclaimed names among the creative team doesn’t stop there. Direction and choreography will come from Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon,Mean Girls: The Musical, The Prom). He’s worked with Disney before, helming the hit stage version ofAladdin(now in its 11th year on Broadway) and the forthcoming production ofHercules, opening at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in June.

No casting has been announced yet forThe Greatest Showman, but a nationwide search for stars is being held across the UK and Ireland. Open auditions will take place throughout March and April in Dublin, Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Exeter, Newcastle and London.

Opening in late December 2017 alongsideStar Wars: The Last JediandJumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the film received lackluster reviews and a dim box office, but positive word-of-mouth from audiences proved it to be a slow burn. It’s currently one of the highest-grossing movie musicals of all time, making nearly $462 million worldwide.

Zac Efron and Zendaya in ‘The Greatest Showman’.20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock

Much ofThe Greatest Showman’s success can be attributed to its score.

Pasek and Paul’s songs helped the original motion picture soundtrack become 2018 year’s best-selling album globally, according to the The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). The album went on to win best soundtrack at the 61st Grammy Awards. “This Is Me” was nominated for Best Original Song at the 90th Academy Awards, and won the Golden Globe in the same category.

Rebecca Ferguson in ‘The Greatest Showman’.Niko Tavernise/Twentieth Century Fox/ Everett

Niko Tavernise/Twentieth Century Fox/ Everett

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Disney Theatrical Group has been responsible for bringing a number of adaptations of hit films to the stage around the world. Those on Broadway alone have includedBeauty and The Beast,Frozen,Newsies,Mary Poppins, TarzanandThe Little Mermaid.

For more information onThe Greatest Showmanstage musical, visitits official website.

source: people.com