John Lithgow to Star as Roald Dahl in Broadway Premiere of Giant

Broadway is set to welcome a powerhouse creative team and cast in Spring 2026 with the arrival of Giant, the Olivier Award-winning play written by Mark Rosenblatt. Following sold-out runs at London’s Royal Court Theatre and on the West End, the production will make its Broadway debut for a strictly limited 16-week engagement beginning Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at a Shubert theater to be announced.

At the center of the play is two-time Tony Award and Olivier Award winner John Lithgow, returning to Broadway for the first time since 2019 to portray the celebrated—and controversial—children’s author Roald Dahl. The production will be helmed by Nicholas Hytner, a two-time Tony Award-winning director, with design by Bob Crowley, a seven-time Tony Award winner known for his iconic scenic work on The History Boys, An American in Paris, and Mary Poppins.

Tickets for Giant will go on sale in October 2025, with early access available now through gianttheplay.com. A teaser video for the play has also been released, offering audiences a first look at what’s being hailed as one of the most anticipated Broadway transfers in years.

A West End Triumph Arrives on Broadway

After winning three Olivier Awards, including Best New Play and Best Actor for Lithgow, Giant comes to New York riding a wave of acclaim. The play dramatizes a pivotal scandal in Dahl’s life, exploring the complexities of his legacy as both a beloved children’s author and a flawed public figure. Producers Brian and Dayna Lee, Stephanie Kramer, Nicole Kramer, Josh Fiedler, and Robyn Goodman are behind the transfer, in association with the Royal Court Theatre.

“A world-famous children’s author under threat. A battle of wills in the wake of scandal. And one chance to make amends,” is how producers describe the central tension of the play.

Brian and Dayna Lee noted, “Giant is a powerful reminder that live theatre sparks vital conversation and deeper connection. The acclaim from its West End run speaks to the resonance of Mark Rosenblatt’s writing and John Lithgow’s stunning performance. We are honored to bring this timely work to Broadway.”

The Creative Team

Playwright Mark Rosenblatt, whose debut play this is, reflected on the journey: “My debut play Giant was written on spec in my kitchen with no assurance it would ever get produced at all. To premiere at London’s mighty Royal Court Theatre, then transfer to the West End, and now to Broadway with John Lithgow—this is truly the stuff of dreams.”

Lithgow himself described the experience as “the most challenging and exciting stage experience of my career,” adding: “I play Roald Dahl, a man of dizzying complexity, on a day of crisis in his life. The story takes place forty years ago, but it resonates powerfully with events of our present day.”

Director Nicholas Hytner, known for The History Boys, The Madness of King George, and his tenure at the National Theatre, praised both the play and his leading man: “It’s a great privilege to be on Broadway with this superb play and to be working again with John Lithgow, one of the English-speaking world’s greatest actors.”

Designer Bob Crowley, a Broadway and West End mainstay, joins the team with a long list of accolades, including Tony and Olivier Awards for his work on Carousel, Once, and The Inheritance.

Why This Broadway Debut Matters

With its combination of theatrical prestige, award-winning talent, and the cultural fascination surrounding Roald Dahl, Giant is poised to become one of the most talked-about Broadway productions of 2026. Beyond the star power of Lithgow, the play confronts urgent questions about legacy, accountability, and artistic influence—conversations that feel strikingly relevant in today’s cultural climate.

More details, including the official Shubert theater venue, opening night date, and additional casting, will be announced in the months ahead.

Follow Giant on social media: @gianttheplay