Paddington is heading to New York.
A musical about the anthropomorphic, marmalade-loving bear is opening on Broadway in the spring of 2027. The show’s transfer was teased with posters of Paddington, which have been popping up around the theater district with the phrase “Have you seen this bear?”
“Paddington: The Musical” will play at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre after “Moulin Rouge” wraps up its seven-year run. It will begin performances on March 30 ahead of opening night on April 18.
Like the popular film franchise, the stage show is based on the children’s series by British author Michael Bond. The musical follows a small, lost bear from Peru who arrives in London in search of a place to call home. According to the official logline, “A chance encounter with the Browns leads him into an unexpected world of adventure, where kindness has the power to change lives and strangers can become family. But London isn’t all afternoon tea and friendly faces — and even the seemingly happiest of families can have cracks beneath the surface. So, when a mysterious and vengeful villain sets her sights on Paddington, the Browns embark on a thrilling rescue mission, realizing they need this special bear as much as he needs them.”
“Paddington” features music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, a book by Jessica Swale and direction by Luke Sheppard. The show originated on London’s West End and won seven Olivier Awards including best musical. Variety’s critic David Benedict praised the production as “furry, funny and fully-formed,” writing that “Paddington” is “alive not only with joy but that vanishingly rare theatrical quality: completely beguiling charm.”
Fletcher called it a “great privilege to welcome New York audiences into Paddington’s world of curiosity,” while Swale cracked, “Let’s just hope Paddington loves Big Apples as much as he loves oranges.”
Added Sheppard, “Paddington approaches life with curiosity, kindness and an unwavering sense of adventure, and what an adventure Broadway will be.”
Producers Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley described the musical as “joyful theatrical adventure” about “finding home, family and community in unexpected places.”
“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,” they said.
StudioCanal, which owns the “Paddington” IP, co-produced the musical. Anna Marsh, the CEO of StudioCanal and chief content officer of Canal+, lauded the creative team including Friedman and Lumley.
“To witness their collective gift in bringing Paddington to life on stage has been a masterclass in production,” Marsh said. “Over the past 12 years we have put such genuine care into honoring Michael Bond’s legacy with our films, series and as proud owners of the IP. We cannot wait for a new audience to delight in the heart, humor, wonder and magic of Paddington’s Broadway debut.”
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