‘Paddington’ musical to transfer to Broadway in spring 2027

A record-breaking smash hit in London, the stage adaptation of the children’s book series now comes to NYC’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre beginning in late March.

Summary

• Paddington The Musical will come to Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre starting March 30
• The show premiered to acclaim in London and won seven Olivier Awards including Best New Musical
• Paddington is based on the children's book series about a bear's adventures around the world and the family he finds

New York, please look after this bear! Paddington The Musical will come to Broadway in spring 2027 following an acclaimed premiere in London in 2025. NYC performances begin at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on March 30 ahead of an April 18 opening night.

Adapted from Michael Bond’s A Bear Called Paddington and the 2014 Paddington film, the musical follows the adventures of a young bear from Peru to London, where he finds a home with the Brown family. But when a vengeful villain targets Paddington, the Browns realize they need him just as much as he needs them, and set out to rescue him.

Producers Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley first teased Paddington's transfer in April, the day after it won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in London. In fact, the show won seven Oliviers, making it the most Olivier-winning new musical of all time and tying the record for Oliviers won by any musical in history (including revivals).

Paddington The Musical features music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, a book by Jessica Swale, and direction by & Juliet’s Luke Sheppard, all of whom won Oliviers for their work. The show premiered in London's West End to rave reviews, including for the unique way they created the character of Paddington, who’s jointly portrayed by a vocal actor off stage and a physical actor inside an animatronic Paddington costume on stage.

“It involves ingenious craft and collaboration, but the all-important result is that the West End’s Paddington is pure theatre magic,” reads London Theatre’s five-star review, which goes on to call Paddington a “great big bear hug of a musical” and “a big hit” that's still running in London.

Casting for Paddington on Broadway has yet to be announced. The creative team includes musical supervisor, orchestrator, and arranger Matt Brind; choreographer Ellen Kane; scenic designer Tom Pye; costume designer Gabriella Slade; Paddington and puppet designer Tahra Zafar; lighting designer Neil Austin; sound designer Gareth Owen; video designer and animator Ash J Woodward; and hair, wig, and makeup designers Campbell Young Associates.

Fletcher said in a statement, "It has been the greatest adventure of my career to be entrusted with bringing Paddington's story to life on stage alongside my brilliant creative collaborators Jessica, Luke and our producers Sonia and Eliza. The response from West End audiences of all ages has been unlike anything I've ever experienced. It's a great privilege to welcome New York audiences into Paddington's world of curiosity and I am absolutely thrilled at the opportunity for this very rare and special bear to be on Broadway."

Swale said, “I couldn’t be more excited to bring Paddington to New York. As a city that breathes theatre, storytelling and imagination, Broadway is the perfect place to celebrate this exuberant and heart-filled story. I can’t wait. Let’s just hope Paddington loves Big Apples as much as he loves oranges.”

Sheppard said, “Paddington approaches life with curiosity, kindness and an unwavering sense of adventure, and what an adventure Broadway will be. It’s a dream come true to be bringing this joyful show to New York and I can’t wait for audiences to meet this very special bear that we all hold so close to our hearts.”

Friedman and Lumley said, "Producing Paddington The Musical with our extraordinary writing and creative team has been an immense privilege. Paddington Bear has endured for generations because he reminds us of the best of ourselves: kindness, curiosity, empathy and the belief that everyone deserves to belong. Wrapped inside a joyful theatrical adventure, with Tom Fletcher’s exceptional score at its heart, is a story about finding home, family and community in unexpected places.”

Check back for information on Paddington The Musical tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Photo credit: Paddington The Musical in London. (Photo by Johan Persson)