“The Princess Bride” Chicago premiere set for 2027 at the James T. Nederlander Theatre

The long-awaited stage version of “The Princess Bride” will make its world premiere in Chicago next summer, with performances set for July 19 through Aug. 22, 2027, at the James M. Nederlander Theatre in the Loop, Playbill reported. According to Block Club Chicago, the production will play a five-week run before any Broadway move.

The musical is based on William Goldman’s fantasy novel and the 1987 film that followed Westley and Buttercup through a tale of romance, sword fights, and comic adventure. Broadway In Chicago said the story unfolds in the fictional land of Florin, where Inigo Montoya, Fizzik, an 11-fingered scoundrel, and an overconfident bully complicate the lovers’ path to happily ever after, per Block Club Chicago.

Jeffrey Seller, the lead producer, said, according to Playbill, “I read The Princess Bride in college and thought it could be a musical ... So it’s no exaggeration to say I have been wanting to do this show for 40 years.”

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Creative team and ticket plans

The creative team includes music and lyrics by Academy Award winners Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, with a book by Tony winner Bob Martin and Rick Elice, Playbill noted. Tony Award winner Alex Timbers will direct, and Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler will choreograph the production.

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Casting has not yet been announced, though, according to Playbill, a workshop earlier this year featured Erika Henningsen as Princess Buttercup, Kevin William Paul as Westley, Joel Perez as Inigo Montoya, Alex Brightman as Billy and Gabriel Ebert as Prince Humperdinck. Broadway In Chicago said tickets will go on sale next month, while group sales for 10 or more are already available.

Attempts to turn “The Princess Bride” into a musical have stretched back nearly two decades, Playbill added, with earlier versions involving Adam Guettel, Steven Lutvak and David Yazbek before the current team came together. The new Chicago staging now gives the project its clearest path yet to Broadway.