The principal dancer Tiler Peck is leaving the corps behind to take center stage. She is making her West End debut in Little Dancer, the musical about the young woman who modeled for Edgar Degas’ famous sculpture, and it opens at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket on Feb. 15, 2027.
The production is directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, and it runs for a limited time before closing on March 27. It tells the story of Marie van Goethem, a poor 14-year-old girl who dreamed of becoming a great dancer but instead became the model for Degas’ iconic sculpture. Set in Belle Époque Paris, the musical previously sold out runs in Washington, D.C., and Seattle, as well as a 2025 concert performance at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
The Cast Behind Degas
Degas is played by Julian Ovenden, who is best known for High Society and Downton Abbey. Laura Pitt-Pulford appears as the adult Marie, while Josefina Gabrielle portrays Martine. Each of the three performers has been recognized with an Olivier nomination.
The Haymarket is where Ovenden returns for this production, and he has described the show as “a deeply moving show about art, ambition and the lives of artists.” He also had kind words for the women around him: “I also feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such extraordinary women at the very top of their game – Susan Stroman, Tiler Peck, Laura Pitt-Pulford and Josefina Gabrielle.”
Why Peck Takes the Stage
Peck was recently named NYCB’s first Choreographic Associate, the first woman to hold a choreographic title in the company’s history. She won an Emmy for the PBS “Great Performances” documentary “Tiler Peck: Suspending Time.” She also received an Olivier nomination for “Turn It Out With Tiler Peck and Friends.”
On screen, she choreographed for John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and appeared in Netflix’s Tiny Pretty Things and Prime Video’s Étoile. She is currently scheduled to dance every performance through March 20.
The project’s creator explained her motivation for undertaking it herself, and the reason she gave matches how she described the work. “Many people know of the ‘Little Dancer’ sculpture, but few know much about the girl, the muse, who inspired it,” Peck said. “This show is about two determined artists willing to do anything for their craft, and it reveals a whole new side to Degas’ masterpiece.”
Stroman’s Track Record
Five Tony Awards and two Oliviers sit behind Stroman’s work, which includes The Producers, Crazy for You, Contact and Oklahoma!. Ahrens, who provides the book and lyrics, and composer Flaherty carry their own Tony and Olivier wins. Together, they have brought to life Ragtime, Anastasia and Once on This Island.
Stroman spoke about the connection between artist and muse. “Just as Degas was inspired by Marie, Marie inspired me,” she said. “She wanted to be a great dancer, and inadvertently, through art, became the most famous dancer in the world.”
The Creative Team
The design work is led by Tony winners: Beowulf Boritt handles sets, Ken Billington handles lighting, William Ivey Long handles costumes and Kai Harada handles sound. Doug Besterman and Larry Hochman handle orchestrations. Sam Davis takes care of music supervision and dance arrangements, and Jill Green Casting handles casting.
Anita Waxman leads the production, joined by Jana Shea, Patricia R. Klausner/Sharon A. Carr, Emily Blavatnik and Danny Cohen. Iwan Lewis serves as U.K. executive producer, while Short Street Productions handles general management.
Waxman spoke about the show’s future beyond London. “We’ve always had big ambitions for this beautiful show, and London is just the beginning,” she said. “We can’t wait to take ‘Little Dancer’ to the world.”
The Story Behind the Sculpture
The musical tells the story of Marie van Goethem’s climb and downfall. She set her sights on becoming a great dancer, yet her life followed another course entirely.
What Comes Next
The engagement at the Haymarket runs from Feb. 15, 2027, through March 27, so Peck will dance nightly for over a month. For a principal dancer already occupied with NYCB appearances, that represents a notable undertaking.
Previous runs of the show point to significant demand from audiences. Performances that sold out in Washington, D.C., and Seattle, along with the concert staging at Drury Lane, have already built a following.
Key Facts Box
- Opening: Feb. 15, 2027
- Closing: March 27
- Venue: Theatre Royal Haymarket, London
- Degas: Julian Ovenden
- Adult Marie: Laura Pitt-Pulford
- Martine: Josefina Gabrielle
- Director/choreographer: Susan Stroman
- Book/lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
- Music: Stephen Flaherty
- NYCB title: First Choreographic Associate (Peck)
Commentary
Peck has real star quality, and Stroman has a proven history with hit shows. The story of Marie van Goethem is a strong one, and pairing ballet with Broadway elements makes for a wide audience.
A strong group of performers fills the cast list. Ovenden, Pitt-Pulford and Gabrielle have all received Olivier nominations, while Peck brings a proven history to both stage and screen work. Behind the scenes, the creative leadership includes Tony and Olivier winners who direct sets, lighting, costumes and orchestrations.
Scheduling is the hazard here: Peck is performing every show through March 20, a stretch that would push even a principal dancer’s endurance. The run, however, is brief enough that the strain stays within reason.
The show coming to London combines dance, drama and history into one production. It tells a tale of resolve, aspiration and the odd destiny of being turned into stone for all time.
Source material: “Ballet Star Tiler Peck to Make London West End Debut in Susan Stroman’s ‘Little Dancer’ (EXCLUSIVE),” Variety.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.