Photo credit: Emilio Madrid
Producers of PADDINGTON The Musical have announced the principal cast who will lead the upcoming Broadway production, which begins performances at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on 30 March 2027.
The cast includes Kelvin Dukes (America’s Got Talent) as Tony, Drew Gehling (Waitress) as Mr. Brown, Allison Guinn (Operation Mincemeat) as Lady Sloane, three-time Emmy Award winner Tony Hale (Veep) as Mr. Curry, Olivier Award winner James Hameed (Paddington The Musical, West End) as Young Man/Paddington (Voice & Remote Puppetry), J. Quinton Johnson (Hamilton) as Grant, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer (The Fantasticks) as Millicent Clyde, Zonya Love (The Color Purple) as Tanya, Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller (Waitress) as Mrs. Brown, Serena Parrish (Don’t Say Good Luck) as Judy Brown, Olivier Award winner Arti Shah (Paddington The Musical, West End) as Paddington (Onstage Performer), Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba (Contact) as Mrs. Bird, and Drama Desk Award nominee Chip Zien (Into the Woods, Broadway) as Mr. Gruber. Full casting will be announced shortly.
Producers Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley said: “We’ve been completely blown away by the extraordinary artists we’ve met throughout the casting process, and by the warmth and enthusiasm with which everyone has welcomed Paddington to Broadway. We really do have a dream company. These are some of the most talented performers working today, all choosing to spend their time and considerable gifts on this funny, joyful and deeply life-affirming new musical. We couldn’t feel luckier.
“And what’s been so exciting is seeing how each of them has responded to these wonderful characters, already finding their own humour, humanity and individuality in them. We can see how much they’re all going to bring to the show.
“We’re also enormously proud to be introducing Arti Shah and James Hameed to Broadway audiences. Our exceptional, award-winning duo have spent years, alongside an extraordinary team of artists and technicians, developing and bringing Paddington himself to life. What they have achieved together is quite remarkable.”
“Alongside STUDIOCANAL and our brilliant creative team and associates, led by Tom Fletcher, Jessica Swale and Luke Sheppard, we cannot wait for Broadway audiences to meet this company and, of course, one very special Bear.”
PADDINGTON The Musical features musical supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Olivier Award nominee Matt Brind, choreography by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Ellen Kane, set design by Olivier Award winner and Tony Award nominee Tom Pye, costumes by Tony and Olivier Award winner Gabriella Slade, Paddington and puppet design by Olivier Award winner Tahra Zafar, lighting by Tony and Olivier Award winner Neil Austin, sound by Tony and Olivier Award winner Gareth Owen, video design and animation by Olivier Award winner Ash J Woodward, hair, wig and makeup design by Campbell Young Associates, casting by Jim Carnahan Casting, Jim Carnahan, CSA, and Jason Thinger, CSA, Paddington casting consultancy by Annabelle Davis, Bear physicality and additional puppetry by Audrey Brisson, and access coordination by Aubrey Smalls.