Keala Settle to star in new re-imagining of MRS. PRESIDENT at Charing Cross Theatre

Keala Settle will be joined by Hal Fowler (Les Misérables) in a gripping psychological drama that uncovers the turbulent inner world and the passions and ambitions of Mary Lincoln, America’s First Lady.

Written by multidisciplinary artist and playwright John Bronagh Lagan, the play features new dramaturgy by Bronagh Lagan, the director behind Olivier-nominated play Cruise and the WhatsOnStage Award winner Flowers for Mrs Harris. Mrs. President will return to London's Charing Cross Theatre following its original London staging in January. This is not a remount, but a reinvention — richer in scope, sharper in focus, and more hauntingly human.

On today's announcement, Bronagh Lagan says: “In today’s polarised political climate, Mary Lincoln’s journey — navigating intense public scrutiny while balancing her roles as wife, mother, and political figure — feels profoundly resonant. Through her strength and vulnerability, Mrs President invites us to reconsider how society and media portray women, revealing the human cost of leadership and the resilience required to endure it.”

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."

The new creative team for the run includes designer Anna Kelsey, lighting designer Derek Anderson and sound designer Eamonn O'Dwyer.

Mrs. President will play at the Charing Cross Theatre from 23 January - 8 March 2026.