Bryan Batt, known for his role in the hit US TV series Mad Men, is set to wow audiences in London this summer. He will be portraying J. Edgar Hoover in the world premiere of the exciting new comedy musical, Here Comes J Edgar!, which opens at the King’s Head Theatre in July.
Batt, known for his role as the closeted art director Salvatore Romano in the popular TV series set in a 1960s Manhattan advertising agency, is making his London stage debut as the long-serving FBI boss. This highly anticipated show is written by renowned American comedy writers Harry Shearer, known for The Simpsons and This Is Spinal Tap, and Tom Leopold, famous for Seinfeld and Cheers. The musical score for the production is composed by the legendary musician, composer, arranger, and conductor Peter Matz, known for Barbra Streisand and Carol Burnett.
This lively and unrestrained musical explores both the public and private life of J. Edgar Hoover, who served as the FBI director from 1924 to 1972. He secured his position as one of the most powerful men in America by collecting information on the private lives of others. However, beneath his tough exterior lay a concealed sexuality, a penchant for secret partying, and a lifelong love affair with his deputy, Clyde Tolson. Hoover was relentless in using the secrets of others to maintain and strengthen his control, yet hidden beneath the power he wielded was his own set of secrets, kept concealed in plain sight.
This strange and twisted story is presented in the style of a 1950s musical romantic comedy. It reveals a sharp and irrepressible comic musical about the love of power and the power of love—along with the transformative effect a simple black dress and a single strand of pearls can have on a man!
Bryan Batt is well-known in the world of musical theatre. On Broadway, he has starred in a variety of shows including Sunset Boulevard, Saturday Night Fever, La Cage Aux Folles, Cats, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Starlight Express, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Seussical, and Beauty and the Beast. He has also appeared in many roles Off-Broadway, including as a key member of the long-running, award-winning revue Forbidden Broadway. In addition to his theatre work, Batt has appeared in over twenty-five feature films, such as High Tide, 12 Years a Slave, Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game, Spike Lee’s Tales from the Hood II, and Jeffrey. Hisnumerous TV appearances have included Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas, The Blacklist, Law & Order: SVU, NCIS, Scream, and Ugly Betty. Bryan is also the author of three books: She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Mother, Big Easy Style andPontchartrain Beach, A Family Affair
“I am beyond thrilled to make my London theatrical debut in Here Comes J Edgar!at the King’s 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 rumor. 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!”
Bryan Batt
Harry Shearer and Tom Leopold’s impressive background spans The Jack Benny Show, Abbott and Costello, Saturday Night Live, National Lampoon, Ellen, Seinfeld, Spinal Tap, Cheers, The Simpsons, and much, much more. With the addition of Peter Matz, you have Noel Coward, Marlene Dietrich, Barbra Streisand and Carol Burnett to add to the mix of comedy musical magic.
“Aside from his more serious acting, Bryan has lit the stage up the past several years in our annual Christmas Without Tearsshow in New Orleans: funny, great singing, and, to quote Stephen Sondheim, graceful as a grouse.”
Harry Shearer
“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!”
Tom Leopold
The show is directed by Josh Seymour, with choreography by the celebrated Bill Deamer. The musical supervisor is Benjamin Ferguson, scenic design is by Sophia Pardon, and costume design is by Tom Paris. Lighting design is by Jamie Platt, sound design by Nick Lodge, and the casting director is Harry Blumenau, CDG CSA. The associate director is Jessica McKenna, the associate choreographer is Aimee Leigh, and the production manager is Adam Jefferys. Arthur Spivak and David Burns produce, with general management handled by James Quaife for Luminous Entertainment Group. Further casting is to be announced.
“I am so thrilled that Bryan is coming to London to play the role of J Edgar Hoover. He will, of course, be well known to UK audiences for his screen work, including the role of Salvatore in the iconic Mad Men. Still, he brings a wealth of Broadway experience that will electrify the audience in the intimate King’s Head. I feel very honoured to be directing the world premiere of this new musical by comedy legends Harry Shearer and Tom Leopold, which also features a gorgeous Golden Age score by Peter Matz. Audiences can expect a wild comic ride as these genius writers turn their scalpel-sharp pens to the secrets of one of the 20th Century’s most powerful and monstrous figures. For me personally, the chance to dig into an undocumented corner of LGBT+ history and unearth the skeletons in the closet of a man who was a seminal queer villain is truly irresistible.”
Josh Seymour
Tickets: £10 – £30
Here Comes J. Edgar runs from 10 July – 16 August 2026 at King’s Head Theatre, 116 Upper St, London N1 1QP, United Kingdom.
![The Rising in London's SE1 is an LGBTQ] bar that has many LGBTQ] social events](https://www.qxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageedit_26_9160770370-728x410.jpg)
