The Princess Bride Musical to Premiere in Chicago Before Broadway Bound Run

A Blue-Chip Creative Team Assembles for Broadway

The production brings together a roster of award-winning theater veterans. The creative team features an Academy Award-winning composing duo, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, known for their work on Frozen. The book is written by Tony Award winners Bob Martin, recognized for The Drowsy Chaperone, and Rick Elice, known for Peter and the Starcatcher and Jersey Boys. Direction is led by Tony winner Alex Timbers of Moulin Rouge!, while choreography is handled by Tony winner Andy Blankenbuehler of Hamilton and In the Heights.

Lead producer Jeffrey Seller, who also produced Hamilton, told the Chicago Tribune that his ambition to stage the property dates back decades. “I read The Princess Bride in college and thought it could be a musical,” Seller said. “So it’s no exaggeration to say I have been wanting to do this show for 40 years.” Seller noted that the production will be the largest he has produced to date, though official New York theater dates and a Broadway house have not yet been announced.

Development History and Prior Workshops

Attempts to bring Goldman’s story to the stage have a long history. William Goldman initially teamed up with The Light in the Piazza composer Adam Guettel in 2006, though the two parted ways the following year. Film director Rob Reiner subsequently approached various songwriters, and Disney Theatrical Productions announced its intention to spearhead an adaptation in 2013 with composer Steven Lutvak. In 2019, David Yazbek was attached to write the score alongside book writers Rick Elice and Bob Martin, before Anderson and Lopez joined the project in 2025.

A developmental workshop of the musical took place earlier this year. The workshop featured Erika Henningsen as Princess Buttercup, Kevin William Paul as Westley, Joel Perez as Inigo Montoya, Alex Brightman as Billy, Gabriel Ebert as Prince Humperdinck, and Jonathan Hadary as Grandpa. However, industry observers note that post-workshop casting changes are common for major Broadway-bound productions, and official casting for the 2027 Chicago engagement has not yet been announced.

Logistical Planning and Regional Impact

The choice of Chicago for the out-of-town tryout offers specific logistical advantages. According to the Chicago Tribune, the Nederlander Theatre provides a high capacity and a large number of well-positioned orchestra seats, which helps offset the financial costs associated with out-of-town tryouts. Producer Jeffrey Seller has also discussed regional logistics with public officials, mentioning conversations with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker regarding the need to extend state incentives for pre-Broadway productions into 2027 amidst competition from other theater markets and local tax structures.

Bringing a production of this scale to the stage requires extensive coordination across multiple operational sectors. When managing large-scale theatrical deployments, producers frequently rely on specialized services to handle complex technical staging, alongside legal counsel to protect underlying rights and agreements. Furthermore, managing high-profile pre-Broadway publicity and stakeholder relations often involves engaging professional firms to oversee media rollout and public engagement.

Group tickets for the Chicago engagement are currently available through Broadway in Chicago, while individual ticket sales have not yet opened. A Broadway transfer during the 2027-28 season remains anticipated following the conclusion of the Chicago run.

Disclaimer: The views and cultural analyses presented in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only. Information regarding legal disputes or financial data is based on available public records.