LONDON, UK – Mad Men star Bryan Batt will make his London stage debut this summer, taking on the role of J. Edgar Hoover in the world premiere of the new comedy musical Here Comes J Edgar!, opening at King’s Head Theatre on 10 July 2026.
Best known for playing Salvatore Romano in the acclaimed television drama Mad Men, Batt will portray the long-serving FBI director in a new musical written by Harry Shearer (The Simpsons, This Is Spinal Tap) and Tom Leopold (Seinfeld, Cheers). The production features an original score by Peter Matz, whose career includes collaborations with Barbra Streisand and Carol Burnett.
The musical presents a satirical interpretation of Hoover’s public and private life. It explores his decades as FBI director from 1924 to 1972, examining how he built influence through gathering personal information on political figures and public figures, while contrasting that public authority with his closely guarded private life, including his relationship with deputy Clyde Tolson.
Styled as a 1950s romantic comedy musical, Here Comes J Edgar! blends historical themes with comedy, exploring power, secrecy and identity through a theatrical lens.
Batt brings extensive musical theatre experience to the production. His Broadway credits include Sunset Boulevard, Saturday Night Fever, La Cage Aux Folles, Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Starlight Express, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Seussical and Beauty and the Beast. His Off-Broadway work includes the long-running revue Forbidden Broadway.
His screen career spans more than 25 feature films, including 12 Years a Slave, High Tide, Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game, Tales from the Hood II and Jeffrey. Television appearances include Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas, The Blacklist, Law & Order: SVU, NCIS, Scream and Ugly Betty. Batt has also written three books: She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Mother, Big Easy Style and Pontchartrain Beach: A Family Affair.
Speaking ahead of rehearsals, Bryan Batt said:
“I am beyond thrilled to make my London theatrical debut in Here Comes J Edgar! at Kings 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!”
The show’s writers have extensive comedy backgrounds spanning The Jack Benny Show, Abbott and Costello, Saturday Night Live, National Lampoon, Ellen, Seinfeld, Cheers, This Is Spinal Tap and The Simpsons, while composer Peter Matz’s career has included work with performers such as Noël Coward, Marlene Dietrich, Barbra Streisand and Carol Burnett.
Harry Shearer said:
“Aside from his more serious acting, Bryan has lit the stage up the past several years in our annual Christmas Without Tears show in New Orleans: funny, great singing, and, to quote Stephen Sondheim, graceful as a grouse.”
Tom Leopold added:
“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!”
The production is directed by Josh Seymour, with choreography by Bill Deamer. The creative team also includes musical supervisor Benjamin Ferguson, scenic designer Sophia Pardon, costume designer Tom Paris, lighting designer Jamie Platt, sound designer Nick Lodge, casting director Harry Blumenau CDG CSA, associate director Jessica McKenna, associate choreographer Aimee Leigh, and production manager Adam Jefferys. The production is produced by Arthur Spivak and David Burns, with general management by James Quaife for Luminous Entertainment Group. Additional casting will be announced.
Josh Seymour said:
“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, but he also brings with him a wealth of Broadway experience that will be electrifying for the audience to experience in the intimate Kings 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.”
Performance Details
Production: Here Comes J Edgar!
Venue: King’s Head Theatre, 116P Upper Street, Islington Square, London N1 1QP
Performance Dates: 10 July – 16 August 2026
Schedule:
- Tuesday to Sunday: 7:30pm
- Thursday 16 July: 7:00pm
- Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees: 2:30pm
Tickets: £10–£30
Box Office: 0207 226 8561
Email: [email protected]
FABUK Review:
By Tim Baros
Here Comes J Edgar! A Comedy Musical
The reviews are in and ‘Here Comes J. Edgar! A Comedy Musical’ is a hit!
It’s a show that hilariously pokes fun about the life of the man who was Director of the FBI for almost 50 years – J. Edgar Hoover.
While he had one of the most important jobs in the U.S., he was also (they say) homosexual, who also liked to dress up in women’s clothing. So you can imagine there’s plenty of material from his life to be included in this show, and it is fantastically done! The show is appropriately camp, damn funny, cleverly written and sung (Book and Lyrics by Harry Shearer and Tom Leopold & Music by Peter Matz), while U.S. actor Bryan Batt (best known for Mad Men) plays Hoover in all his glory, from officiating meetings with government officials, flirting with his desperate secretary (a very good Laura Medforth), and in tender moments with his boyfriend and man Friday (an excellent Hugo Bolton). Batt is just about perfect to take this role on. And while I would’ve liked to have seen more of Hoover dressed up in women’s clothing (this aspect of his life is the most talked about), Here Comes J. Edgar! A Comedy Musical is riotous and good campy fun!
https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/here-comes-j-edgar-a-comedy-musical-t7zc