It’s a tough time in theatreland with the likes of Sir Elton John’s Tammy Faye musical closing after less than a month on the stage.
But one show is living up to its name as the Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular has announced it has extended its run until September 2025 after wowing audiences.
The Greatest Showman inspired musical, which opened at the Empress Museum in London’s Earls Court, has released thousands more tickets at the 700-seater venue.
It is proving as popular as the movie, starring Hugh Jackman, with theatergoers praising the awe-inspiring international circus acts and the performances of all of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s hit songs from the 20th Century Fox Motion Picture including ‘This Is Me’, ‘Rewrite the Stars’, and ‘A Million Dreams’.
In a new trailer for the circus show exclusively for MailOnline, lead character Max, played by newcomer Aaliya Mai, is welcomed into the big top circus tent by The Showman, played by Simon Bailey, and tells her ‘It’s show time’.
The clip also features the acts in the show, including firebreathers, aerial artists, and muscled gymnasts being thrown high into the air during the West End show.
One show is living up to its name as the Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular has announced it has extended its run until September 2025 after wowing audiences
The Greatest Showman inspired musical, which opened at the Empress Museum in London’s Earls Court, has released thousands more tickets at the 700-seater venue
It is proving as popular as the movie, starring Hugh Jackman , with theatergoers praising the awe-inspiring international circus acts and the performances of all of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s hit songs from the 20th Century Fox Motion Picture including ‘This Is Me’, ‘Rewrite the Stars’, and ‘A Million Dreams’
Chip Seelig, the executive producer of the stage show, who also helped finance the 2017 movie, told MailOnline that he was ‘blown away’ by the response that the Come Alive! production has received.
He said: ‘The Big Top literally takes off every single performance and so to be able to release over 100,000 more tickets to meet the demand to see this show is such a huge milestone for us.’
He paid tribute to his team for making the show a success and its talented performers who perform the jaw-dropping circus stunts each night.
He said: ‘I think it has succeeded because ‘Come Alive!’ is like nothing else in London right now for friends and families. It is pure joy from the minute you step inside Empress Museum, and complete escapism from start to finish.’
At the helm of the production is award-winning creative director Simon Hammerstein, who is grandson of lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II.
As the co-owner of The Box, he is one of New York and Soho’s top cabaret producers, and has brought his experience to the new hit show and said that it does differ to the movie.
He said: ‘Although Come Alive! is different to The Greatest Showman film, in that it has a brand new story and new characters, we still wanted it to evoke a similar feeling in audiences and the challenge of trying to achieve that that was immensely exciting as well.
‘Any show has to stand out on its own merit: ours is no different. It’s a brand new story that has the film’s composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s involvement: using their hit songs from the movie.
The Greatest Showman film released in 2017 with a star-studded cast including Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Zendaya and Michelle Williams
In a new trailer for the circus show exclusively for MailOnline, lead character Max, played by newcomer Aaliya Mai, is welcomed into the big top circus tent by The Showman, played by Simon Bailey, and tells her ‘It’s show time’
The clip also features the acts in the show, including firebreathers, aerial artists, and muscled gymnasts being thrown high into the air during the West End show
Chip Seelig, the executive producer of the stage show, who also helped finance the 2017 movie, told Mail Online that he was ‘blown away’ by the response that the Come Alive! production has received
‘By reworking that for a contemporary setting, our hope is that these new characters, on a new adventure, give the show a distinct feel and sense of wonder.’
‘The venue and the world we’ve built within it are truly unique. Our aim was that we really want people to feel as though they are entering The Greatest Showman universe when they set foot in the Empress Museum.
‘The space is created and designed with that in mind. The team have put so much care and attention to detail into it that we hope it offers those who come along so much to explore and interact with before they’ve even taken to their seats to watch the show.’
The 2017 movie, which has inspired the show, was a surprise international hit which made over £400m at the box office despite a small budget of £66m.
Despite having a high profile cast led by Hugh Jackman, the Disney film was something of a sleeper hit that never reached the top of the cinema charts, but its catchy soundtrack made it popular on streaming platforms.
Chip Seelig paid tribute to his team for making the show a success and its talented performers who perform the jaw-dropping circus stunts each night.
At the helm of the production is award-winning creative director Simon Hammerstein, who is grandson of lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II
Ashley Roberts (left) and Jess Wright (right) lead the glamour as they stunned in their glad rags at Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular on opening night in October
The movie is a fictionalized depiction of the life of showman and entertainer P. T. Barnum, who created the Barnum & Bailey Circus and its famous star attractions.
It comes as the movie’s star Hugh sent fans into a frenzy when he was spotted wading out of the waters off Bondi Beach in Sydney yesterday, the sculpted 56-year-old almost seemed to recreate the moment Daniel Craig’s James Bond emerged from the sea in Casino Royale.
And, coming after a gym session with a friend, Jackman was clearly showing off the fruits of his labour as he took a dip.
The actor has returned to his native Australia from the US to spend Christmas with his children Oscar, 24, and Ava, 19.
Extended run tickets for ‘Come Alive!’ The Greatest Showman are available on the show’s website.
