Posted: 9/26/26 at 8:34pm
So has anybody anything about the supposedly Broadway cast for Paddington…cause from what I’ve heard is supposedly set to have one of the most stacked casts for a musical Broadway has seen in recent memory
Posted: 9/27/26 at 8:47pm
Can anyone confirm. I heard rumour that Caissie Levy is set to play Mrs. Brown, that Jonathan Groff is supposed to be in it. James Hameed and Arti Shah will reprise, but then some "legend" like a Judy Kaye is playing Mrs. Bird. Has anyone heard any of this, or anyone attached? I'm curious
Posted: 9/27/26 at 8:51pm
I don’t believe James and Arti are coming over anymore.
Posted: 9/27/26 at 8:56pm
Theatrefanboy1 said: "Can anyone confirm. I heard rumour that Caissie Levy is set to play Mrs. Brown, that Jonathan Groff is supposed to be in it. James Hameed and Arti Shah will reprise, but then some "legend" like a Judy Kaye is playing Mrs. Bird. Has anyone heard any of this, or anyone attached? I'm curious"
I thought Jessie Mueller was going to play Mrs. Brown?
Posted: 9/27/26 at 8:57pm
Mrs. Brown is not a great role, it would be a waste of Cassie.
Posted: 9/28/26 at 7:37am
Not sure why the producers think they meed names to sell the show. The star is Paddington. Maybe they think certain adults wouldn't go because it is a family musical if they don't have names?
Updated On: 9/28/26 at 07:37 AM
Posted: 9/28/26 at 7:51am
I wouldn't call any of these people "names". They're only names to us. Tourists don't really know who any of them are. I think a stacked cast of really talented stage vets is great
Posted: 9/28/26 at 9:01am
About a month ago, the Sweaty oracle alleged that the cast was
we’ll see if that ends up being true, but the above group would be fabulous (and not a single one of them is a name)
Posted: 9/28/26 at 10:39pm
Owen22 said: "Mrs. Brown is not a great role, it would be a waste of Cassie."
Unless the Ragtime London rumors turn out to be true, this seems like a perfect gig: a feel good original musical that is set to be a hit.
Posted: 9/29/26 at 7:26am
Posted: 9/29/26 at 8:51am
Jordan Catalano said: "I don’t believe James and Arti are coming over anymore."
Can confirm. I was on Flea entry line (the early people) with one of the investors for the upcoming Broadway transfer and he informed me that the only people who received offers to transfer were James and Arti, but then as of a few weeks ago, plans had changed and the offer was rescinded.
Posted: 9/29/26 at 9:44am
Theatrefanboy1 said: "Can anyone confirm. I heard rumour that Caissie Levy is set to play Mrs. Brown, that Jonathan Groff is supposed to be in it. James Hameed and Arti Shah will reprise, but then some "legend" like a Judy Kaye is playing Mrs. Bird. Has anyone heard any of this, or anyone attached? I'm curious"
Didn’t Caissie say she didn’t want to originate any new roles because of her two young kids? She alluded to how much time it takes with rehearsals, tech, etc. Which is why she stayed with Ragtime / their extension instead of leaving to do the Lost Boys? I think it is unlikely she would then jump into Paddington, though I’d love to see her in it!
Posted: 9/29/26 at 10:04am
I actually hope it's Jessie Mueller and not Caissie Levy. I think she's much better suited for the part, and it's been a while since we've had her on Broadway! She'd make a lovely pairing with McMclure too.
If Milligan does end up playing Lady Sloane, I hope she covers Millicent. Lady Sloane is a fun part (and an Olivier-nominated one) but I would love to hear her belt Pretty Little Dead Things.
Lesli Margherita would also make a great Millicent or Lady Sloane.
Judy Kaye would be wonderful in Bonnie L's part — maybe they could swap the Cats reference for a Phantom one.
Posted: 9/29/26 at 10:09am
Hairspray0901 said: "Theatrefanboy1 said: "Can anyone confirm. I heard rumour that Caissie Levy is set to play Mrs. Brown, that Jonathan Groff is supposed to be in it. James Hameed and Arti Shah will reprise, but then some "legend" like a Judy Kaye is playing Mrs. Bird. Has anyone heard any of this, or anyone attached? I'm curious"
Didn’t Caissie say she didn’t want to originate any new roles because of her two young kids? She alluded to how much time it takes with rehearsals, tech, etc. Which is why she stayed with Ragtime / their extensioninstead of leaving to do the LostBoys? I think it is unlikely she would then jump into Paddington, though I’d love to see her in it!"
I mean, I agree...however, not being the lead role in a transfer of a musical that won't be as much to carry on her personally, might be the difference. Lost Boys also wasn't an established show.
Posted: 9/29/26 at 10:33am
I agree. Paddington is the star and will be the reason tickets sell. I heard Tony Hale is playing Mr. Curry and while I'm sure he will be funny, not sure he and his salary are necessary and I doubt he can sing very well.
Posted: 9/29/26 at 10:48am
fashionguru_23 said: "Hairspray0901 said: "Theatrefanboy1 said: "Can anyone confirm. I heard rumour that Caissie Levy is set to play Mrs. Brown, that Jonathan Groff is supposed to be in it. James Hameed and Arti Shah will reprise, but then some "legend" like a Judy Kaye is playing Mrs. Bird. Has anyone heard any of this, or anyone attached? I'm curious"
Didn’t Caissie say she didn’t want to originate any new roles because of her two young kids? She alluded to how much time it takes with rehearsals, tech, etc. Which is why she stayed with Ragtime / their extensioninstead of leaving to do the LostBoys? I think it is unlikely she would then jump into Paddington, though I’d love to see her in it!"
I mean, I agree...however, not being the lead role in a transfer of a musical that won't be as muchto carry on her personally, might be the difference.Lost Boys also wasn't an established show."
She said the time frame of doing back-to-back tech and rehearsal process was impossible at that time for she and her family. Paddington will have been a ways off from when she began rehearsals for Ragtime.
I'll be happy if either she or Jessie Mueller are Mrs. Brown.
Posted: 9/29/26 at 1:18pm
bwaydreamer said: "I agree. Paddington is the star and will be the reason tickets sell. I heard Tony Hale is playing Mr. Curry and while I'm sure he will be funny, not sure he and his salary are necessary and I doubt he can sing very well."
Yep, the bear is the star so they don't need any kind of name. Most everyone who has been named just finished a long run or hasn't been on Broadway for a very long time and may not want to be again. Rob McClure will be lovely in this, but not a star by any means.
Posted: 9/29/26 at 1:40pm
I think you overestimate how much they're going to be paying Tony Hale. He's not a name like you're making him out to be. A normal principle contract is likely for him.
No one need question Sonia Friedman when it comes to budgeting a show (Stranger Things aside), that's what I'll say. No single actor is going to blow the bank I promise you that.
Posted: 9/29/26 at 1:45pm
Tony Hale could be hilarious, if that is actually true. Tom Edden and he also look like they could be brothers.
A person with some notoriety outside of the theatre world is not a bad thing for ANY show in this climate, even if the primary benefit is that he'll be able to do the talkshow circuit.
Posted: 9/29/26 at 1:50pm
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "
A person with some notoriety outside of the theatre world is not a bad thing for ANY show in this climate, even if the primary benefit is that he'll be able to do the talkshow circuit."
Yes, I think people are HIGHLY overestimating the popularity/name value of Paddington in the US.
Posted: 9/29/26 at 7:23pm
bwaylvsong1 said: "Yes, I think people are HIGHLY overestimating the popularity/name value of Paddington in the US."
Agreed. It is a very British show.
Posted: 9/29/26 at 7:42pm
I'm not too concerned about PADDINGTON and WARRIORS starting strong, but each will have to run for several years to recoup.
In London, PADDINGTON can basically coast for 10 years on the strength of the IP, and it's a quintessentially London show for tourists and locals. That bear is on murals and in every tourist shop and department store. Here in the states, Paddington is not a national hero. Quality and buzz will be even more important -- and for some people, transcending the IP. (The tour should do great but that's a whole separate thing)
The Best Musical Tony remains very important this year.
Updated On: 9/29/26 at 07:42 PM
Posted: 9/29/26 at 8:23pm
Tag said: "bwaylvsong1 said: "Yes, I think people are HIGHLY overestimating the popularity/name value of Paddington in the US."
Agreed. It is a very British show."
Remember that many said the same about OPERATION MINCEMEAT, and yet it continues to have the steadiest business out of a majority of the shows still running. I have zero worries about the potential success of PADDINGTON since it’s a wonderfully whimsical show based on internationally known IP. The only potential downfall I can foresee is producers getting too greedy too early and making tickets price inaccessible to families.
