Giant at Music Box Theatre

“We’ll be lucky to encounter a more thought-provoking piece in the next decade. Unforgettable.” – The Times

The whole world knows and adores the works of renowned British children’s writer, poet, and screenwriter Roald Dahl. Whether you have heard the tale of James and the Giant Peach, The BFG or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, read the stories of Matilda, The Witches, or The Twits, or have been captivated by Fantastic Mr Fox, George’s Marvellous Medicine, or Danny, the Champion of the World as a child, or enjoyed Tales of the Unexpected and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More as an adult, everybody has their Roald Dahl favorites. 

However, after a literary review of a picture book about the Siege of West Beirut, the writer’s legacy was uprooted by a scandal – an event so significant that Mark Rosenblatt wrote a play about the complexity thereof and the literary giant himself, bringing a true story with the perfect blend of fact and fiction to life – and it took the West End by storm. Simply brilliant from the get-go, going from drawing room drama to darkness as sharp-toothed and ugly as the writer’s fictional monsters, and extremely relevant to the world right now, Giant is an incredibly moving, ferociously high-stakes play – and the biggest must-see of the year! 

This season you can consider yourself extremely lucky, because the opportunity to experience Giant’s Broadway premiere has just fallen into New York’s lap! That’s right – Mark Rosenblatt’s award-winning play Giant is coming to the Music Box Theatre!

Giant Tickets

“This play is all that theatre should be. Essential viewing.” – Daily Mail

SYNOPSIS

It is 1983, and renowned children’s book author Roald Dahl is faced with the backlash of his literary review of a picture book about the siege of West Beirut by the Israeli army following a breakdown of a ceasefire imposed by the United Nations during the 1982 Lebanese Civil War. His outburst is deemed antisemitic, and ultimately leads to a crisis in his career, threatening to tarnish his legacy beyond repair. 

Mark Rosenblatt’s Giant is not only a portrayal of Roald Dahl’s incredible and remarkable complexity as a person, but also serves as a debate-starter about current affairs such as apartheid, Israel’s comparisons to Nazi Germany, and the unraveling of Palestinian life. These themes resonated back in the early 1980s as much as they do now, giving Giant a sense of urgency and importance – and that is what theatre is all about. 

“’Giant’ is timely. It’s sophisticated. It’s complex. It’s nuanced. It’s everything an excellent play should be.” – BroadwayWorld 

CREATIVE TEAM

Giant is the brainchild of renowned and award-winning playwright and director Mark Rosenblatt – the debut play from his pen. Giant received the 2025 Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Play, while Mark Rosenblatt was awarded the Critics’ Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright, as well as the 2025 Stage Debut Award for Best Creative West End Debut. 

The incredible creative team at the helm of Giant also includes the talents of Sir Nicholas Hytner (Miss Saigon; The History Boys; One Man, Two Guvnors; The Crucible; The Lady in the Van) as director, and designer Bob Crowley (Ghetto; The Madness of George III; Carousel; The History Boys; Les Liaisons Dangereuses; The Magic Flute). 

“There is no more urgent play right now.” – The Standard

CAST

Renowned actor John Lithgow (The Changing Room; Sweet Smell of Success; Requiem for a Heavyweight; M. Butterfly; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; 3rd Rock from the Sun; The Crown) – bearing an uncanny resemblance to the writer himself – will be reprising his role as Roald Dahl on Broadway in 2026. During his career, John Lithgow received no less than six Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Laurence Olivier Award, and two Tony Awards. 

The star-studded cast of Giant also includes the award-winning talents of Aya Cash (You’re The Worst; The Boys; Welcome to Flatch; The Franchise) as Jessica Stone, Elliot Levey (Cabaret; His Dark Materials; Coriolanus; Take Flight; The Habit of Art) as Tom Maschler, and Rachael Stirling (Tipping the Velvet; The Bletchley Circle; The Priory; An Ideal Husband) as Felicity Crosland. 

“John Lithgow is mesmerizing as Roald Dahl.” – The Telegraph

HISTORY & LEGACY

Giant premiered in September 2024 at the Royal Court Theatre, after which it transferred to the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End, with the run finishing in August 2025. To date, Giant has received three Laurence Olivier Awards out of five nominations. Mark Rosenblatt received the award for Best New Play, John Lithgow the award for Best Actor, and Elliot Levey for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Romola Garai received a nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and Nicholas Hytner for Best Director. 

“… ‘Giant’ is remarkable. A bold, provocative, and thoroughly gripping piece of theatre.” – BroadwayWorld

THE MUSIC BOX THEATRE

The iconic Music Box Theatre is one of Broadway’s most intimate, historic, and adored theatres – and with very, very good reason. Centrally located on 239 West 45th Street, George Abbott Way, and featuring stunning limestone Palladian and neo-Georgian designs, the landmark theatre hosts the best of the best of Broadway all year long. The breathtaking Adam style auditorium boasts luxurious seating for up to 1,000 theatre goers spread across the orchestra floor, orchestra pit, mezzanine, and box seats, alongside superb sound and lighting, pin-drop acoustics, fantastic amenities, and perfect sight-lines. With a century’s worth of the best entertainment under the belt, your experience at the Music Box Theatre promises to be exceptional!