No, she's not going to be the next star of Cole Escola's Broadway blockbuster Oh, Mary!, but Tony nominee Keala Settle will get to play Mary Todd Lincoln next year in a reimagining of John Ransom Phillips' Mrs. President in London.

Described as a "gripping psychological drama that uncovers the turbulent inner world and the passions and ambitions of Mary Lincoln, America’s First Lady," performances are scheduled at the Charing Cross Theatre January 23-March 8, 2026, with an official opening January 27.

Joining Settle (The Greatest Showman, Waitress, Sister Act, Hands on a Hardbody) will be Hal Fowler (Les Miserables, Aspects of Love) as Mathew Brady, one of the earliest portrait photographers in American history. Bronagh Lagan directs.

In a statement 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.”

Lagan, who has re-envisioned the play following its January staging in London, added, “In today’s polarized 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."

The production will also have set and costume design by Anna Kelsey, video design by Matt Powell, sound design by Eammon O’Dwyer, lighting design by Derek Andersen, and movement direction and associate direction by Sam Rayner.

Dan Weager is the production manager with casting by Jane Deitch. The general managers are Katy Lipson and Kristie Winsen for Aria Entertainment.

For ticket information click here.