Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sting will star in a newly revised version of his musical The Last Ship for nine performances at the Metropolitan Opera House, June 9-14, 2026. Sting will reprise the role of shipyard foreman Jackie White, which he played during the musical's original Broadway run in 2014.
The Last Ship is set in the English shipbuilding town of Wallsend, and is inspired by Sting's own childhood there. The production, directed by Leo Warner, features a new book by Barney Norris, and co-stars Sting's long-time collaborator Shaggy as the Ferryman. Presented by Karl Sydow, the engagement is part of an international series of runs in Amsterdam, Paris, and Brisbane.
Said Sting in a statement: “I grew up in the shadow of a shipyard, watching thousands of men walk past my front door every morning to work there, and imagining that would be my destiny too. I dreamed of escaping—and I succeeded, traveling far and earning my living on some the world’s greatest stages—including the Metropolitan Opera House in 2010. But the further I got, the more that shipyard called to me. The Last Ship is my tribute to the people and the place that shaped me. Bringing it to the Met feels like a full-circle moment.”
The production features scenic and video design by 59 Studio, choreography by Rebecca Howell, costumes by Loren Elstein, lighting by Adam Bassett, and sound design by Tom Gibbons.
The Last Ship played Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre in 2014, opening October 26. It closed in January the following year. The production was nominated for two Tony awards—for Sting's score, and Rob Mathes' orchestrations. A revised version, with a new version from director Lorne Campbell, premiered in Toronto in 2019, with Sting again starring. This series of international presentations marks the third major version of the musical.
Ahead of these performances, an extended version of Sting's The Last Ship album will be released December 5. The Last Ship (Expanded Edition) will feature five brand-new new recordings. The album is produced by Sting and Rob Mathes, and mixed by Donald Hodgson and Robert "Hitmixer" Orton.
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