Disney's Hercules is getting ready to make its West End debut, and a new video offers a first look at star Luke Brady's take on the score's soaring I Want song, "Go the Distance," ahead of performances. Watch above.
The musical will begin at Theatre Royal Drury Lune June 6, 2025, and open June 24. Brady will star in the title role, with further casting (by Natalie Gallacher for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting) to be announced.
Adapted from Disney's 1997 animated film, Hercules has played several earlier runs, premiering in 2019 via the Public Theater's Free Shakespeare in the Park Series and playing New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse last year. A new production, with Tony winner Casey Nicholaw taking over as director and choreographer, premiered in Hamburg this year, and it appears that staging will be the basis for the West End bow. Nicholaw is again directing and choreographing, joined by co-choreographer Tanisha Scott, also reprising her work from the German production.
The musical features music by Alan Menken and lyrics by David Zippel, including their songs from the original film and several new tunes written for the stage musical. The book is by Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah, based on the Disney film written by Ron Clements, John Musker, Donald McEnery, Bob Shaw, and Irene Mecchi and directed by Clements and Musker.
The West End creative team will also include scenic and additional video designer Dane Laffrey, costume designers Gregg Barnes and Sky Switser, lighting designer Jeff Croiter, sound designer Adam Fisher, video designer George Reeve, hair designer Mia M. Neal, make-up designer Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche, and special effects designer Jeremy Chernick. Michael Kosarin is penning arrangements and serving as music supervisor, with Danny Troob and Joseph Joubert providing orchestrations. Dance arrangements are by David Chase.
Telling the story of the muscle-bound half-god Hercules of Greek mythology, Hercules features such Disney favorites as "Go the Distance," “Zero to Hero,” and “I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)."
