HAPPY FEET musical headed to Minneapolis in 2028

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 4:53pm

Fresh on the heels of “Purple Rain,” the stage adaptation of Prince’s film that had its glitzy world premiere at Minneapolis’ State Theatre in October 2025, another film-to-stage adaptation will take its first bow in the Twin Cities.

“Happy Feet,” the 2006 animated film about Mumble the tap-dancing emperor penguin, is being adapted for the stage and is expected to premiere in Minneapolis in summer 2028.

The news was announced at a recent event for theater insiders in Miami and comes after “Purple Rain,” whose producer, Orin Wolf, vowed to take the show to Broadway (more on than later).

Broadway and film producer Dori Berinstein is behind the “Happy Feet” adaptation effort. Six of her shows have won Tonys, including “Stereophonic,” “Company,” “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” 

Berinstein also executive produced “Dirty Dancing.”

Actors Robin Williams, Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, rapper Fat Joe and rocker Chrissie Hynde voiced the animated characters of “Happy Feet.”

No casting has been announced for the stage version.

Minnesota has a history of pre-Broadway tryouts, the biggest of which was “The Lion King,” which premiered in 1997 and transferred to Times Square, where it is still running.

https://www.startribune.com/is-minnesota-becoming-a-hotspot-for-launching-broadway-shows/601599994?utm_source=gift

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 5:05pm

Michael Arden is directing and Ayodele Casel is choreographing.

The penguins are puppets and will be designed by Basil Twist. 

[malcs98]

Posted: 3/18/26 at 5:07pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Michael Arden is directing and Ayodele Casel is choreographing.

The penguins are puppets and will be designed by Basil Twist."

Hmm…very interesting 

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 6:48am

If they’re gonna musicalize an animated penguin movie from the 2000s, I’d rather it be Surf’s Up. 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 1:02pm

I would have liked Pebble & The Penguin adapted. I haven’t seen Happy Feet in forever. And I would be hyped if they thought of this sooner.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 3/19/26 at 4:41pm

I've seen the movie precisely once, at a church event when I was probably 15. Even at the time I thought it was fairly featherweight (so to speak), and I have almost no memory of it. Although I wouldn't be surprised if I would appreciate it more on a rewatch. It's probably a better movie than Purple Rain​​​​,  if nothing else.

That said, it feels like something that could be adapted to the stage fairly well.  Arden directing new material feels a little hit-or-miss as of late, but the news about extensive animatronics sounds like they have something ambitious and different in mind. And I'm digging what appears to be the new trend of using Minneapolis for out-of-town Broadway tryouts.