From the Tony and Olivier Award-winning producers of Groundhog Day, Spring Awakening and Kinky Boots, JOY: A New Musical will make its UK premiere at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 20 February - 10 April.
With the feel-good musical storytelling of Waitress and the unapologetic female empowerment of SIX, it is a fresh, funny and uplifting celebration of one woman’s determination to make it on her own terms.
Following its 2025 Off-Broadway run, JOY tells the extraordinary true story of Joy Mangano, the pioneering inventor and entrepreneur whose ingenuity and determination transformed an everyday idea into a household name. While her story was brought to the big screen in the 2015 Oscar-nominated film Joy, starring Jennifer Lawrence, this musical takes audiences deeper into the remarkable life of the woman who dared to back herself and build a business on her own terms.
A single mother living in suburban Long Island, Joy is determined to create a better future for herself and her family. When a frustrating household chore sparks an idea for a revolutionary new product, she invents the Miracle Mop and takes a chance on herself, pitching it to QVC. In just 30 minutes on air, 18,000 mops are sold, setting Joy on an extraordinary journey from aspiring inventor to successful entrepreneur. Her story is a celebration of the transformative power of an idea, proving that sometimes the biggest opportunities come from the most unexpected places.
Joy Mangano said: “From selling out on QVC in the 90s to taking centre stage in London with JOY: A New Musical - what an incredible journey! Seeing my life set to music is beyond spectacular. If audiences leave with more joy in their hearts and bigger dreams in their minds, then that's the real magic!”
The production will lead with music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony Award-nominated AnnMarie Milazzo, and a book by Tony Award-winning Broadway producer Ken Davenport, with direction by Lorin Latarro, and choreography by two-time Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated Joshua Bergasse.
The wider creative team includes set designer Lu Herbert, costume designer Tina McCartney, video designer David Bengali, and Grammy-nominated musical supervisor Andy Einhorn.
Casting for the UK premiere will be announced in due course.
