Concord Theatricals Adds Play Giant to Licensing Catalog
The company will manage North American stage rights for the production starring Tony winner John Lithgow.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Books
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Concord Theatricals has added the play Giant to its licensing catalog, taking over the administration of its North American English-language stage rights. The play, written by Mark Rosenblatt, explores the controversy surrounding the alteration of Roald Dahl's books.
Why it matters
The play focuses on the creative and ethical debates triggered when printings of Roald Dahl's books were edited to remove references to race, gender, ethnicity, and disabilities. By bringing this story to a wider licensing audience, the production continues to highlight tensions between historical literary integrity and modern editorial standards.
John Lithgow won both an Olivier and a Tony Award for his portrayal of Roald Dahl in the play. The production was recorded during its London run and is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release.
The players
Concord Theatricals
This company is a major licensor of stage plays and musicals for professional and amateur theater productions.
Mark Rosenblatt
He is the playwright who authored the drama detailing the conflicts surrounding the editing of Roald Dahl's bibliography.
John Lithgow
The award-winning actor portrayed Roald Dahl in both the London and Broadway iterations of the production.
The details
Administered through the Samuel French imprint, the licensing agreement allows theaters to produce the play and access professional tools for programs via Playbillder Express. The script examines the specific editorial changes made to Dahl's classic works that removed descriptors related to skin color and social identity.
Timeline
The play Giant premiered in London in 2024.
The play Giant debuted on Broadway in 2026.
Concord Theatricals announced the licensing addition on October 15, 2026.
The filmed version of the production debuts in movie theaters worldwide on November 18, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The transition of this play into the standard licensing market reflects how contemporary theater often capitalizes on high-profile literary controversies. This move marks a shift where real-world debates regarding censorship and canon are adapted into stage dramas to engage modern audiences.
Theater companies across North America can now secure rights to produce the show using the Samuel French imprint. Audiences will also have the opportunity to view the filmed stage production in cinemas starting in mid-November.
The takeaway
The addition of this play to a major licensing catalog makes a controversial real-world debate accessible to local theater groups globally. Readers can track how these editorial challenges are portrayed on stage by checking local listings for both live productions and the upcoming film release.
What happens next
The filmed version of the production is scheduled to debut in movie theaters worldwide on November 18, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the intersection of literature and stage, see the Books section.
More information
To utilize professional templates for stage productions, visit the Playbill program creation portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Playbill.
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