Opening Night

Helen Mirren Returns to Broadway as Peter Morgan's The Audience Opens

The drama comes to New York after a sold-out run on London’s West End.

New York City

March 8, 2015

Dame Helen Mirren returns to Broadway as Queen Elizabeth II in Peter Morgan's The Audience, directed by Stephen Daldry, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. — Dame Helen Mirren returns to Broadway as Queen Elizabeth II in Peter Morgan's *The Audience*, directed by Stephen Daldry, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.
(© Joan Marcus)

Oscar and Olivier Award winner Helen Mirren makes her long-awaited return to Broadway tonight, March 8, as Peter Morgan's The Audience opens at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The production began previews February 14 and will run through June 28.

Two-time Tony Award winner Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot) directs The Audience, which comes to Broadway after a sold-out run on London's West End. The drama explores the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 to 2012 through her weekly meetings with England's prime ministers. Morgan also wrote the screenplay for the 2006 film The Queen, which starred Mirren portraying the same legendary figure. She earned an Academy Award for her performance in that film, and an Olivier Award for her work in the play.

The Queen and her Prime Ministers: Rod McLachlan, Anthony Cochrane, Richard McCabe, Tony Ward, Judith Ivey, Rufus Wright, Helen Mirren, Michael Rudko, Dakin Matthews, Jason Loughlin, Michael Elwyn, Geoffrey Beevers, and Dylan Baker. — The queen and her prime ministers: Rod McLachlan, Anthony Cochrane, Richard McCabe, Tony Ward, Judith Ivey, Rufus Wright, Helen Mirren, Michael Rudko, Dakin Matthews, Jason Loughlin, Michael Elwyn, Geoffrey Beevers, and Dylan Baker.
(© Joan Marcus)

In addition to Mirren, the cast includes Dylan Baker (John Major), Geoffrey Beevers (The Queen’s Equerry), Michael Elwyn (Sir Anthony Eden), Judith Ivey (Margaret Thatcher), Dakin Matthews (Winston Churchill), Richard McCabe (Harold Wilson), Rod McLachlan (Gordon Brown), Rufus Wright (David Cameron), Anthony Cochrane (Cecil Beaton, Detective, Bishop), Graydon Long (Footman, Beefeater), Jason Loughlin (Footman, Beefeater), Michael Rudko (Ensemble), Henny Russell (Queen's Secretary), Tracy Sallows (Bobo McDonald), Elizabeth Teeter (Young Elizabeth), and Tony Ward (Ensemble).