Oh Happy Day: Waking Ned Devine Is Becoming a Musical!

by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder

Some news just makes your heart sing—and today, mine’s doing a full-out Irish jig. Waking Ned Devine, the 1998 cinematic treasure I’ve adored for years, is being adapted into a musical.

Yes. A musical.

And not just any musical—a musical directed by the brilliant John Doyle, with a book by Come From Away’s David Hein, and a score by none other than Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (Once). That sound you hear? That’s me clapping like a maniac and crying happy tears.

For those who haven’t yet had the pleasure (and truly, what are you waiting for?), Waking Ned Devine is a warm, witty, and wonderfully weird Irish comedy about friendship, community, and the kind of outrageous plan only small-town charm can get away with. When two best friends discover that someone in their village has won the lottery—and that the winner, Ned Devine, has died from the shock of it—they hatch a mischievous plot to claim the winnings and spread the wealth. It’s cozy. It’s clever. It’s got heart for days.

And now, it’s going to sing.

Let’s talk creative team, because I can’t stop smiling about it. John Doyle—yes, that John Doyle, the minimalist maestro behind those stunning actor-musician revivals of Sweeney Todd and Company—is directing. His work is always intimate and powerful, somehow stripping things down to make them even more emotionally rich. He’s the perfect fit for a story like this: quiet, quirky, and soulful.

Then there’s David Hein, one-half of the husband-and-wife writing team behind Come From Away. If anyone knows how to craft a moving, community-centered story with humor and heart, it’s him. And the icing on this already delicious cake? The music is by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová—the Oscar-winning duo behind Once. You know the songs are going to break your heart and then gently stitch it back together again. Their sound is earthy, melodic, and completely transportive—exactly what Waking Ned Devine deserves.

I’m already imagining it all: a cheeky opening number with the townsfolk gossiping at the pub, a haunting ballad when Jackie sees Ned’s ghost smiling from the cliffs, a rousing act one finale as the village bands together, pints raised high. And let’s be honest—this is the kind of show where a fiddle solo could make you weep.

What excites me most, though, is how right this all feels. In a theatre landscape that sometimes forgets the power of a small, sincere story, Waking Ned Devine is a love letter to kindness, to community, and the beautiful absurdity of life. It reminds us that we’re all better when we look out for one another—and maybe play just a little fast and loose with the rules in the name of something good.

I cannot wait for this show. I’m already picturing the cast, dreaming up the orchestrations, and hoping someone throws a sheep on stage for good measure.

Until then, I’ll be raising a glass to Ned.