Emmy Award-winning and Olivier nominated New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck will star in the West End premiere of the first full scale production of new musical Little Dancer at the Theatre Royal Haymarket early next year.
Taking inspiration from the true story of Marie van Goethem, the young ballerina who posed for Edgar Degas’ sculpture, The Little Dancer, the musical is the latest work from the Olivier and Tony Award-winning team behind Ragtime, Anastasia and Once on This Island – Lynn Ahrens (book and lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (music).
One of the most celebrated ballerinas of her generation – Peck will reprise her critically acclaimed performance as Young Marie van Goethem in the production which is directed and choreographed Broadway legend, double Olivier and five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman.
Running from 15 February to 27 March 2027, the production will also star Olivier Award-nominated actor and singer Julian Ovenden (South Pacific, Merrily We Roll Along, All About Eve) as Edgar Degas, Olivier Award nominee Laura Pitt-Pulford (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Aspects of Love) as adult Marie and Josefina Gabrielle (The Baker’s Wife, 42nd Street, Les Misérables) as Martine.
Looking forward to the West End run, Peck said: “I’m thrilled to bring Little Dancer to London alongside this incredible team and make my West End debut in a story that resonates so deeply with me. Many people know of the Little Dancer sculpture, but few know much about the girl, the muse, who inspired it. This show is about two determined artists willing to do anything for their craft, and it reveals a whole new side to Degas’ masterpiece. I cannot wait to bring the little dancer’s story to life in the beautiful, historic Theatre Royal Haymarket night after night.”
L-R Susan Stroman, Tiler Peck, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Picture: Mati Gelman
Ovenden added: “I couldn’t be happier or more excited to be returning to the Theatre Royal Haymarket next spring with Little Dancer, this beautiful story inspired by Edgar Degas and his famous young dancer. Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty have written a deeply moving show about art, ambition and the lives of artists, and I’m thrilled to be part of bringing it to London. I also feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such extraordinary women at the very top of their game — Susan Stroman, Tiler Peck, Laura Pitt-Pulford and Josefina Gabrielle. It promises to be a very special experience.”
Stroman commented: “Little Dancer is a visually stunning and life-affirming piece of theatre about the lives of women and the power of art. Just as Degas was inspired by Marie, Marie inspired me. She wanted to be a great dancer, and inadvertently, through art, became the most famous dancer in the world.”
First seen in the US with sold-out runs in Washington D.C. and Seattle, the musical made its London debut in concert form at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane last summer. The cast included Peck, Ovenden, Pitt-Pulford and Gabrielle.
Commenting on their work, writer and lyricist Ahrens said: “What a rare thing – to discover an untold story of art, and then get to tell it with a world-class team of collaborators. We’re thrilled and honoured to bring this production – and this extraordinary story – to the West End.”
Composer Flaherty added: “Writing the music for Little Dancer has been the joy of a lifetime. The music carries dancers through the air and lifts audiences long after the curtain comes down. I can’t wait to share the magical world of our show in this historic theatre this coming spring.”
The creative team also includes Beowulf Boritt (scenic design), Ken Billington (lighting design), William Ivey Long (costume design) and Kai Harada (sound design) with casting by Jill Green, orchestrations by Doug Besterman and Larry Hochman and music supervision and dance arrangements by Sam Davis.
Angela Thomas
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