Seasoned stage performers prepare for standout appearances in London and Central Park this summer.
Jinkx Monsoon will make her West End debut as Mary Todd Lincoln in the comedy Oh, Mary!. The limited engagement at Trafalgar Theatre begins August 17 and continues through September 26, 2026. The two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner previously earned acclaim for the same role during the show's Broadway run earlier in the year for 30 performances.
Before Monsoon's arrival, Cole Escola will take on the role of the First Lady. Escola succeeds Catherine Tate and performs from July 20 through August 15, 2026. The production currently features Maya Rudolph in the lead through July 5 on Broadway.
Monsoon remains active in London with another engagement ahead of the new role. She stars as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow at Soho Theatre Walthamstow. This appearance marks her ongoing presence in the British theater scene this year.
Raúl Esparza turns his attention to classic drama in New York City. He portrays Leontes in William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The Public Theater production runs from July 25 to August 22, 2026, with previews leading to an opening on August 11 under the direction of Daniel Sullivan.
The cast includes several notable actors from stage and screen. Lily Rabe plays Hermione opposite Esparza, Gilbert Owuor appears as Polixenes, Isabela Ferrer takes the role of Perdita, Daniel Kyri portrays Florizel, Teagle F. Bougere serves as Camillo and Steven Skybell rounds out the principal players in key supporting parts.
Shakespeare in the Park offers free admission to all performances, allowing broad access to professional theater in an outdoor setting. This marks another chapter in Esparza's summer schedule as he also prepares for an upcoming project titled Galileo.
These casting updates reflect continued momentum in major theater markets. Fans of both contemporary comedy and Shakespearean tragedy have multiple opportunities to see acclaimed performers in action over the coming months.
