A new musical based on the novel by James Leo Herlihy and the beloved triple Academy Award-winning 1969 film will open at London's Southwark Playhouse Elephant next spring with a limited run planned.
Midnight Cowboy - A New Musical artwork.
The world premiere of Midnight Cowboy - A New Musical will open on 4 April 2025.
Midnight Cowboy tells the story of Joe Buck, a naïve Texan who moves to New York City with dreams of becoming a successful hustler. Struggling to make a living, he forms an unlikely and poignant friendship with Ratso Rizzo, a street-smart but ailing con man. Together, they navigate the harsh realities of life on the margins, searching for connection and survival in an unforgiving city.
With a book by Bryony Lavery, the Tony-nominated writer of Frozen, this timeless story is being reimagined with fresh energy. The musical delves into themes of friendship and ambition, accompanied by a stunning soundtrack from three-time Ivor Novello Award-winning composer Francis “Eg” White, known for his work with artists like Adele, Sam Smith, Florence + The Machine, and James Morrison.
Casting is to be announced.
Midnight Cowboy - A New Musical will have direction and choreography by Nick Winston (Burlesque the Musical, Manchester Opera House & Glasgow Theatre Royal) with musical arrangements, orchestrations and musical supervision by Charlie Ingles (Grease The Musical, UK Tour), set and lighting design by Andrew Exeter (LIZZIE, UK Tour), costume design by Sophia Pardon (The Wizard of Oz, Watermill Theatre), sound design by Yvonne Gilbert (The Baker’s Wife, Menier Chocolate Factory), creative development by Nick Winston, production management by James Anderton (Operation Epsilon, Southwark Playhouse Elephant), musical direction by Ellie Verkerk (The School For Scandal, Royal Shakespeare Theatre), associate direction and choreography by Libby Watts (The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, The Other Palace), associate set design by Natalia Alvarez (The Creakers Musical, Theatre Royal Plymouth), props supervision by Katie Balmforth (Bonnie & Clyde, Garrick Theatre), costume supervision by Josh Bamling (Fly More Than You Fall, Southwark Playhouse Elephant), intimacy direction by Lucy Fennell(Visit from an Unknown Woman, Hampstead Theatre) and dialect coaching by Mary Howland (Fawlty Towers, Apollo Theatre).
Midnight Cowboy - A New Musical will play at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 4 April - 17 May 2025.
