David Hyde Pierce, Joanna Lumley, Mark Rylance to Star in La Bête in West End and on Broadway

David Hyde Pierce, Joanna Lumley, and Mark Rylance will star in a revival of David Hirson’s La Bête, to run June 26 – August 28 at the Comedy Theatre in the West End. Matthew Warchus will direct the production, which will then transfer to Broadway. Dates and a specific theater will be announced shortly.

The play focuses on a high-minded classical dramatist who loves only the theater, and a low-brow street clown who loves only himself. When a fickle princess decides she’s grown weary of the royal theatre troupe, a battle ensues between the two men, who are left fighting for survival as art squares off with ego in a literary showdown.

The production will feature production design by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Hugh Vanstone, music by Claire van Kampen, and sound design by Simon Baker. Further casting will be announced at a later date.

Pierce won a Tony Award for his performance in Curtains and starred in the original Broadway cast of Monty Python’s Spamalot. He is best known for his Emmy Award-winning work as Niles Crane on Frasier.

Rylance won a Tony for Boeing-Boeing, which was also directed by Warchus. He’s currently starring in the West End in Jerusalem and is one of the world’s most prominent Shakespearean actors.

Lumley may be best known for her portrayal of Patsy Stone on the award-winning BBC television series, Absolutely Fabulous. The actress will be making her Broadway debut in La Bête. Among her U.K. stage appearances are The Cherry Orchard, Noel and Gertie, and Blithe Spirit.