‘Giant,’ Starring John Lithgow as Roald Dahl, Will Move to Broadway

Giant, a play about Roald Dahl and antisemitism, will transfer to Broadway this spring.

The play, starring John Lithgow, transfers to Broadway after an Olivier Award-winning run on the West End at the Royal Court Theatre. Lithgow, who won an Olivier for his performance as Dahl, will transfer with the production.

The play follows the true story of Dahl writing a book review in a right-leaning magazine that has been criticized for being antisemitic. The review comes out in 1983 just as The Witches nears publication and a lunch is convened with his ex-mistress, new girlfriend and his British book publisher and sales director at his American publisher, who push him to make an apology.

Giant is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Nicholas Hytner and written by Mark Rosenblatt.

The play will begin Broadway performances on March 11 at a Shubert theater to be announced for a strictly limited 16-week engagement.

Lithgow was last on Broadway in the 2019 play, Hillary and Clinton, as Bill Clinton. The Conclave and The Crown actor has frequently appeared on Broadway since making his debut in 1973 and has won two Tony Awards, one for his Broadway debut in The Changing Room and his second for best actor in a musical in the 2002 production of Sweet Smell of Success.

“Being a part of Giant from its inception has been the most challenging and exciting stage experience of my career,” Lithgow said. “I play the central character of Roald Dahl, a man of dizzying complexity, on a day of crisis in his life. The story takes place forty years ago, but it resonates powerfully with events of our present day. No play I’ve ever been in has had such an impact on audiences. I am so proud and honored to play this part.”

Brian and Dayna Lee, Stephanie Kramer and Nicole Kramer, Josh Fiedler and Robyn Goodman, and Royal Court Theatre are producing the play.