The full cast has been confirmed for the upcoming world premiere of comedy musical Here Comes J Edgar!
As previously announced Mad Men star Bryan Batt (Sunset Boulevard/La Cage aux Folles/Saturday Night Fever, Broadway) will make his London stage debut as infamous FBI chief J Edgar Hoover in the production which will play the King’s Head Theatre from 10 July to 16 August 2026.
He will be joined by Marc Elliott (She Loves Me, Sheffield Crucible, Sweet Charity, Nottingham Playhouse) as legendary columnist and radio commentator Walter Winchell.
The cast will also include Alfie Parker (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, UK Tour, Fat Friends, UK tour) as Tony Clownpants; Holly Willock (Mean Girls, West End, Cats, 40th anniversary tour) as Nurse; Hugo Bolton (King Lear, Almeida Theatre, The Inheritance, West End) as Clyde Tolson, Isobel Grace Bass (recent graduate from Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and Guildford School of Acting) as onstage swing, Jeremy Batt (The Greatest Showman, Bristol Hippodrome, Top Hat, Chichester Festival Theatre) as onstage swing, Jess Pratley (professional debut) as Boy John, Joanna Kirkland (The Good Enough Mums Club, tour, Dear Evan Hansen, West End) as Mother (21-24 July) Judith Owen as Lady In Red; Laura Medforth (Acorn Antiques, Hope Mill Theatre, Hello, Dolly!, London Palladium) as Helen; Lucy O’Byrne (Little Miss Sunshine, UK and Ireland tour, Evita, UK, Ireland and Germany tour) as Mother (excluding 21-24 July), Martha Pothen (Lovers Actually, The Other Palace, 50 First Dates the Musical, The Other Palace) as Maisie, Ryan Heenan (Girl from the North Country, The Old Vic, Back to the Future – The Musical, West End) as Purvis; Reuben Khan (professional debut) as John F Kennedy and Simon Anthony (42 Balloons, Lowry Theatre, Guys & Dolls, The Bridge Theatre) as John Dillinger.
Written by US comedy aristocracy – Harry Shearer (The Simpsons, This is Spinal Tap) and Tom Leopold (Seinfeld, Cheers) – the musical features a score written by the musician, composer, arranger and conductor Peter Matz.
Looking ahead to his summer in the capital, Batt said: “I am beyond thrilled to make my London theatrical debut in Here Comes J Edgar! at Kings Head Theatre this summer. I truly love everything about London; the people, the history, the culture, and especially the theatre. It’s a special assignment to play a historical figure, especially one so shrouded in intrigue and nefarious rumour. The creators Tom Leopold, Peter Matz and Harry Shearer have crafted a hysterical, sometimes touching, and wildly entertaining musical. Fun will be had by all… including the cast!”
Shearer added: “Aside from his more serious acting, Bryan has lit the stage up the past several years in our annual Christmas Without Tears show in New Orleans: funny, great singing, and, to quote Stephen Sondheim, ‘graceful as a grouse’.”
Leopold commented: “If you thought Bryan Batt was brilliant in Mad Men, wait until you catch his singing and dancing in Here Comes J Edgar! The audience will leave the theatre humming his star power! Remember, we told you so!”
Led by director Josh Seymour and choreographer Bill Deamer, the creative team also includes musical supervisor Benjamin Ferguson, scenic designer Sophia Pardon, costume designer Tom Paris, lighting designer Jamie Platt, sound designer Nick Lodge and casting director Harry Blumenau.
Commenting on the musical, director Seymour said: “I am so thrilled to be introducing the fabulous company of Here Comes J Edgar! We’ve assembled a truly dazzling array of West End and Broadway talent to bring this hilarious new musical to life. Our audiences are in for a spectacular experience, getting up close and very personal with our 15-strong cast in the exquisitely intimate King’s Head space.”
Angela Thomas
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.