Guide to 'Giant' on Broadway starring John Lithgow
The award-winning play, which dramatizes a true scandal in the life of children's author Roald Dahl, comes to NYC in March 2026 following a hit London premiere.
Summary
- The play deals with an incident in the life of Roald Dahl in 1983
- It was first seen at London's Royal Court Theatre before transferring to the West End
- Mark Rosenblatt became an Olivier winner with his first play
- John Lithgow was also honoured and reprises his role on Broadway
One of the most acclaimed British plays of recent years, Mark Rosenblatt’s Giant marks the Broadway return of a stage and screen titan. Emmy and Tony Award winner John Lithgow reprises his Olivier Award-winning performance as a gigantic household name: Roald Dahl.
Giant takes place in 1983, when the beloved children’s author is at the height of his success. But when he publishes an article that readers deem antisemitic, it calls his career and legacy into question. In a 5-star review, LondonTheatre.co.uk’s critic wrote: “The play reverberates on multiple levels without ever devolving into a thinly veiled screed [...] Giant is quasi-miraculous in its embrace of sometimes self-contradictory points of view.”
Following two award-winning runs in London, Giant will come to Broadway in March 2026. Find out everything we know about this buzzy production so far below.
Check back for information on Giant tickets on New York Theatre Guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the play Giant about?
Giant dramatizes an episode in the life of author Roald Dahl (The BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda), and it takes place over one afternoon in the country house where he has recently moved with his fiancée, Felicity “Liccy” Crosland.
In 1983, right before Dahl published The Witches, his review of a picture book about the siege of West Beirut by the Israeli Army during the 1982 Lebanon War received criticism for antisemitism. He receives a visit from Jessie Stone, a sales manager from his American publisher, and a gathering storm ensues as he decides whether to apologize or jeopardize his career.
Where is Giant playing on Broadway?
The venue for Giant on Broadway premiere has yet to be announced.
How long is Giant on Broadway?
Giant runs 2 hours 20 minutes, including an intermission. This was the show's runtime in London and is within the typical length of a Broadway show; most run between 90 minutes and 3 hours.
Is Giant appropriate for kids?
In London, Giant was recommended for ages 14 and up due to strong language and themes of antisemitism. Although Roald Dahl is a beloved children's author, Giant is not aimed at young kids.
When did the play Giant premiere?
Giant was first performed at London’s Royal Court Theatre in September 2024, directed by Nicholas Hytner and designed by Bob Crowley. The production then transferred to the city's West End theatre district in April 2025.
Giant on Broadway begins performances on March 11, 2026.
Who wrote Giant?
Giant is written by Mark Rosenblatt, a British theatre director and filmmaker who has worked at the National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and more. Giant is his debut play, which makes its Olivier Award win for Best New Play quite impressive!
Giant characters
Giant features both fictional characters and dramatizations of real people, like author Roald Dahl. Here are all the characters in Giant.
- Roald Dahl: A children’s book author accused of antisemitism following a provocative book review.
- Jessie Stone: A fictional Jewish sales executive from Dahl’s American publisher and a great fan of his children’s books.
- Tom Maschler: Dahl’s UK publisher and friend.
- Felicity “Liccy” Crosland: Dahl’s soon-to-be second wife.
- Hallie: A young Australian domestic helper.
- Wally Saunders: A handyman.
Who is in the cast of Giant on Broadway?
Giant on Broadway stars John Lithgow, reprising the Olivier Award-winning role he created in London London Theatre’s critic described Lithgow’s performance in Giant as “altogether astonishing” and a “career best.”
Lithgow is a two-time Oscar nominee perhaps best known for his three-time Emmy-winning role as Dick Solomon on the sitcom Third Rock from the Sun. He is a Tony winner for The Changing Room and Sweet Smell of Success, and he most recently appeared on Broadway as Bill Clinton in 2019's Hillary and Clinton. He also plays Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series.
Further casting for Giant on Broadway is to be announced.
What awards has the play Giant won?
For its 2024 world premiere in London, Giant was nominated for five Olivier Awards in 2025 and won three: Best New Play, Best Actor (John Lithgow), and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Elliot Levey).
Giant on Broadway will be eligible for NYC theatre honors, including Tony Awards, in spring 2026.
Major productions of Giant
Giant has only had three major productions thus far, but they've made a huge impact on both sides of the Atlantic.
- 2024 world premiere: Giant debuted with the Royal Court Theatre in London in September 2024, and the production won three Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, the following year.
- 2025 West End premiere: Giant transferred to the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End, with all but one original cast member reprising their roles.
- 2026 Broadway premiere: Giant transfers to Broadway in March 2026, with John Lithgow reprising his role from both London runs as Roald Dahl.
Fun facts about Giant
Learn more about the world of Giant with the fun facts below.
- The real house where the play is set is privately owned, but his writing hut, designed especially for Dahl’s 6' 6" frame, is on display at the nearby Roald Dahl and Story Centre in the village of Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire (northwest of London).
- Dahl invented more than 500 new words and character names, like "scrumdiddlyumptious" and "Oompa-Loompa," in a made-up language he called “Gobblefunk.”
- John Lithgow and Nicholas Hytner previously worked together on the media satire musical Sweet Smell of Success.
- Romola Garai, who originated the role of Jessie Stone in London, competed against herself for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performances in Giant and The Years. She won for the latter.
How to get Giant Broadway tickets
Check back for information on Giant tickets on New York Theatre Guide. You won't want to miss John Lithgow in this giant hit from London.
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