The production will run at the Charing Cross Theatre from the 23rd January until the 8th March 2026.
It has been announced that Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman, Waitress, Sister Act) will star in a new re-imagining of John Ransom Phillips’s Mrs. President, which will officially open in London on the 27th January. She will be joined in the production by Hal Fowler as Matthew Brady.
Following its original London staging in January 2025, this fully transformed production opens at London’s Charing Cross Theatre for six-weeks only.
Set in the aftermath of 1865 and following the assassination of her husband, Mary is a woman under siege, suffering from immense grief, struggling with her mental health, vilified by society and in the media. She seeks out Brady to help her redefine her public image, a mission which ultimately results in a journey of self-discovery.
Cast as Mary Lincoln, the wife of President Abraham Lincoln, this play marks a rare non-singing dramatic role for Keala Settle, while Hal Fowler, who was cast in The Who’s original rock musical Tommy and has starred in numerous West End shows plays Mathew Brady.
Multidisciplinary artist and playwright John Ransom Philips comments: “History rarely grants women the right to define themselves — Mary Lincoln least of all. Her story deserves to be told not as rumour, spectacle, or judgment, but as the truth of a brilliant, wounded, and resilient woman who bore the human cost of a nation’s spotlight. Our collaboration with Bronagh, Keala, Hal, and the Aria Entertainment team finally gives Mary the truth and artistry she was denied.”
Meanwhile, Keala Settle said: “I was so struck by Mary’s story and by the profound human cost she endured. She was a woman whose identity for centuries was put in a box and whose legacy continues to be defined by other people’s ideologies. I’m excited by this opportunity to tell her story and connect with London audiences. I hope they will see both myself and Mary in a brand-new light.”
The production will be directed by Bronagh Lagan (Olivier-nominated play Cruise and What’s On Stage’s 2024 Best West End Production Flowers for Mrs Harris), with the creative team also including: designer Anna Kelsey, lighting designer Derek Anderson and sound designer Eamonn O’Dwyer.
To book tickets visit: https://charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/theatre/mrs-president-2026