The beloved “Karate Kid” franchise is headed to the British stage next spring, with a major national tour set to kick off in April 2026.
Producers Naoya Kinoshita, Kumiko Yoshii, John Gore and Kenny Wax have revealed that “The Karate Kid – The Musical” will make its U.K. premiere with an extensive tour prior to planned West End and Broadway productions.
Written by Robert Mark Kamen, who penned the original 1984 film that starred Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita, the musical features music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini. The production reimagines the coming-of-age story through movement and music, centered on the mentor-student relationship between Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi.
“William Goldman said about Hollywood ‘No one knows anything.’ He was right,” Kamen said. “Who knew that 43 years after I wrote the original script for ‘The Karate Kid,’ we would see these very same characters acting and singing on the British stage in a story that is as fresh and universally relevant as it was four decades ago.”
The original film became a cultural phenomenon following its theatrical release, earning Morita an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor. The franchise has since expanded to include three sequels, a 2010 remake starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, the Netflix series “Cobra Kai” (2018-2025), and this year’s sixth film, “Karate Kid: Legends.”
The musical received its world premiere in St. Louis in 2022, playing to sold-out houses and rave reviews.
Amon Miyamoto directs, with choreography by Keone and Mari Madrid. The Tony Award-winning design team includes scenic designer Derek McLane, costume designer Ayako Maeda, lighting designer Bradley King, sound designer Kai Harada and projection designer Peter Nigrini. John Clancy provides orchestrations, with music supervision and arrangements by Andrew Resnick and wigs and hair design by Tommy Kurzman.
The show opens April 28, 2026 at New Wimbledon Theatre before visiting 11 cities across England, Scotland and Wales through Aug. 1. The tour schedule includes stops in Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Glasgow, Sheffield, Sunderland, Birmingham and Cardiff.
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