Music Theatre International has bought the licensing rights to Back to the Future: The Musical, which puts the Olivier-winning show on course for UK schools and amateur companies. No release date has been set yet.
Music Theatre International confirmed on 21 October 2026 that it has acquired the stage licensing rights to Back to the Future: The Musical. The announcement went out through MTI Europe as well as the company's American office, and that is what makes it news for British schools, youth theatres and amateur societies: the show now sits in the catalogue they license from.
They will have to wait a little longer to put it on. The MTI Europe listing says the title cannot be licensed yet and that no general release date has been fixed, and MTI says further licensing announcements will follow. Its full statement is on the MTI Europe website. Drew Cohen, MTI's president and chief executive, aimed the deal squarely at those groups: "Groups at all levels—from schools to community theaters, to professionals—will bring audiences to their feet with this incredible show."
The licence is the latest step for a musical that was made in Britain. It had its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House in February 2020, transferred to the West End's Adelphi Theatre in 2021, and in 2022 was named Best New Musical at the Olivier Awards, taking the same prize at the WhatsOnStage and BroadwayWorld Awards. The London run ended on Sunday 12 April 2026, so there is nothing to book in the West End now. Originally produced by Colin Ingram Limited, the show has since picked up two Tony nominations and completed a North American tour, and MTI puts its worldwide audience at more than five million.
The stage version was adapted from the 1985 Universal/Amblin film by its own creators, Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis, with new songs by Alan Silvestri, who composed the film's score, and Glen Ballard. Numbers from the film carry over into the show, among them The Power of Love, Johnny B. Goode, Earth Angel and Back in Time. Gale said the acquisition means the story "can now continue to be told by even more people and inspire new audiences".
In the meantime the professional production is still touring Britain. Tony Award winner Roger Bart plays Doc Brown at the Bristol Hippodrome until 21 November 2026, then at the Edinburgh Playhouse (2 December 2026 - 2 January 2027) and the Liverpool Empire (12 January - 6 February 2027). Brian Conley takes over the role at Milton Keynes Theatre from 9-27 February 2027. The tour released its first production photos on 15 October.
Further afield, productions are running in Tokyo, Paris and Hamburg and on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas, with Mexico, the Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, Korea, Scandinavia and a South East Asia tour still to come. For the New York angle on the deal, see the News From Broadway report.
For more information, visit the official website.
