David Copperfield The New Musical Sets AEA Off-Broadway Run at The Duke on 42nd Street in NYC

A major new musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' most personal novel is heading to Off-Broadway, and the production team is actively casting now. "Charles Dickens' Copperfield," billed as "David Copperfield, The New Musical," will play The Duke on 42nd Street in New York City beginning with previews on September 29, 2026, with an official opening night set for October 9. The production is an AEA Off-Broadway engagement with a scheduled run through December 6, and a possible extension through December 20, 2026. With pre-production underway and a full creative team already in place, this is a live opportunity for New York-based theater professionals across departments.

The project is a book, music, and lyrics original by Jeffrey Scharf, adapting what Dickens himself called his favorite work and his most autobiographical novel. The story follows young David through a childhood marked by cruelty and hardship, including the sadism of stepfather Murdstone, the brutal schoolmaster Creakle, and the grim routine of a London sweatshop, before tracing his adult life through love, loss, and hard-won success. Along the way, audiences will encounter some of the most beloved characters in the Dickens canon: Aunt Betsey, the Peggotty family, the irrepressible Mr. Micawber, and the slithering Uriah Heep. It is rich theatrical material, and the kind of large-canvas literary adaptation that tends to draw extensive ensemble casts and full creative departments.

Directing is Gabriel Barre, a veteran of Off-Broadway and regional theater with a reputation for staging ambitious, character-driven musicals. Barre has worked extensively in the New York theater ecosystem and brings real experience with ensemble storytelling to a project that will demand exactly that. Music supervision is handled by Sonny Paladino, whose Broadway and Off-Broadway credits reflect a deep facility with new musical development. Together with Scharf, whose material is at the center of this production, the creative team appears well-suited to shepherding an original score through the final stages of development and into performance. General management is in the hands of Lico Whitfield, who handles the operational and contractual infrastructure that keeps an AEA engagement running smoothly.

Casting is being led by Daryl Eisenberg of Eisenberg Casting, with Joey Bermudez serving as casting assistant. Eisenberg is a well-regarded casting director in the New York theater world with a strong track record across Off-Broadway and developmental work. Agents and actors should note that casting is actively underway now, more than a year before the production opens, which signals that the team is being thoughtful and deliberate about assembling this ensemble. Given the scope of the Dickens source material and the number of named characters involved, this production will almost certainly require a cast capable of significant doubling and strong character work across a wide range. Now is the time to be in contact with Eisenberg Casting.

The producing team is led by Jonathan Hogue alongside Davenport Theatrical Enterprises and Evan Bernardin Productions. Davenport Theatrical, founded by Ken Davenport, is one of the more prolific producing operations working in New York theater today, with a portfolio that spans Broadway, Off-Broadway, and touring productions. Their involvement signals a production with real infrastructure behind it, not a shoestring developmental showcase. The Duke on 42nd Street, operated by Theatre Development Fund as part of the 42nd Street complex, is a respected 229-seat Off-Broadway house with a long history of supporting new and adventurous theatrical work. A run there carries genuine credibility in the industry, and an AEA contract means this engagement operates under union jurisdiction throughout.

For designers, stage managers, and production staff, the timeline here is worth noting. Pre-production begins August 24, 2026, which places the hiring of department heads well before that, likely in the first half of 2026 and potentially as early as late 2025 for key positions. A period musical of this scope, set in Victorian England across multiple locations from rural Suffolk to London's working-class streets, will require a scenic designer and costume designer with strong period chops. The production will also need a lighting designer, sound designer, and likely a wig and hair department given the era. Stage management will be essential on an AEA contract of this scale. Anyone working in these areas who is interested in the 2026 season should be tracking this one closely.

For the full production listing, including confirmed production contacts, office addresses, and the complete crew and casting roster as it develops, visit ProductionList.com. This production is actively in its staffing and casting phase, and the complete listing will be updated as new attachments are confirmed. Whether you are a designer looking to lock in your fall 2026 season, an agent tracking opportunities for your clients, or a stage manager exploring upcoming AEA engagements, the ProductionList entry for "David Copperfield, The New Musical" is worth bookmarking today.

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