About the Show

A reimagined, haunting drama of Mary Lincoln’s battle for truth, legacy, and self-definition.

Mrs President delves into the turbulent inner world of Mary Lincoln, a woman haunted by grief, scandal, and the enduring shadow of her late husband. Accused of treason and cast out by society, she seeks redemption through a tense collaboration with famed photographer Matthew Brady — portrayed by Hal Fowler — in a charged exploration of image, power, and truth. Reconceived after an intensive creative development in New York, this newly imagined production transforms the original 2025 staging into a richer, sharper, and more emotionally resonant work. Directed by Bronagh Lagan and written by John Ransom Phillips, it features Broadway star Keala Settle in a rare dramatic role, revealing a Mary Lincoln both fragile and defiant, fighting to reclaim her own story.

Critic Reviews (12)

"While Mary Todd Lincoln is a dramatic subject with huge potential to explore, alas in this play she remains out of focus, like a poorly taken photograph."
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“Despite the relatively breezy 85-minute runtime, the play plods along with time going slowly, making it feel far longer than it actually is.”
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“Despite the compelling performances and strong design elements, the writing could benefit from a sharper focus.”
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"More problematically, the play repeatedly revisits its central ideas - authorship, image-making, the historical silencing of women - at the expense of character development and narrative momentum."
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"A play which all too often feels like a stern lecture rather than a natural exploration of the characters: not even a superb performance by Keala Settle can save it."
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For a previous production

"It’s gained a more refined look and remains an accomplished dip into the mind"
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For a previous production

"...a valiant attempt to tell the story of a woman who tried to cement her own legacy."
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For a previous production

"this is a story of a woman about whom we clearly know very little"
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