Helen Mirren to Reprise Role of The Queen on Broadway

It has now been confirmed that Helen Mirren will reprise her Olivier Award-winning role as Queen Elizabeth II in Peter Morgan's 2013 play The Audience, which will open on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on 8 March 2015, following previews from 17 Feb 2015 for a limited run through 28 Jun 2014.

The production will be directed by Stephen Daldry and designed by six-time Tony Award winner Bob Crowley with lighting by Rick Fisher, sound by Paul Arditti, and music by Paul Englishby. The Broadway transfer is produced by Matthew Byam Shaw for Playful Productions, Robert Fox and Andy Harries.

Peter Morgan's The Audience follows the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 to the Diamond Jubilee in 2012. The play speculates on the private weekly meetings that the Queen holds with her Prime Ministers at Buckingham Palace. Morgan shows the Queen at various stages of her life alongside Prime Ministers such as Gordon Brown, Winston Churchill, David Cameron and Margaret Thatcher.

It was earlier rumoured that Morgan is apparently contemplating adding Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair into the narrative, who didn't appear in the London production.

The original London production was directed by Stephen Daldry and opened at the Gielgud Theatre on 5 March 2013, following previews from 15 Feb 2013. The run sold out, but was broadcast to selected cinemas around the UK and internationally as part of the NT:Live programme.

Helen Mirren won an Academy Award for her portrayal as Queen Elizabeth II in Peter Morgan's 2006 film 'The Queen'. She earned Tony nominations for 'A Month in the Country' and 'Dance of Death'. Her extensive London theatre credits include 'The Seagull', 'Henry VI', 'The Roaring Girl', 'Two Way Mirror' and 'Some Kind of Love Story'. She became a Dame of the British Empire in 2003.

Further casting information for the show will be announced at a later date.