Sean Hayes follows Will And Grace co-star to make London theatre debut

The American star, known for playing McCormack’s outlandish person Jack McFarland successful the sitcom, volition reprise his Tony Award-winning show arsenic a Hollywood histrion and performance pianist successful Good Night, Oscar astatine the Barbican Theatre.

Last year, McCormack – known for playing Will Truman successful Will And Grace – made his West End debut successful the philharmonic Wild About You, astatine the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Hayes said: “It’s thrilling to beryllium making my West End debut astatine the Barbican this summertime with Good Night, Oscar. I’m anxious to present 1 of the all-time greats, Oscar Levant, to the UK.

“The effect we received connected Broadway was unthinkable and I’m hoping British audiences volition admit the past of this fascinating antheral – a multi-faceted pioneer, from performance pianist to infamous raconteur. It’s an honour to bring this accumulation to London.”

Hayes won a 2023 Tony starring histrion successful a play gong for the accumulation which sees him play Levant, an American composer, speech amusement big and histrion who starred successful An American In Paris, and who besides struggled with intelligence wellness issues.

The play is acceptable successful 1958, and sees erstwhile Tonight amusement big Jack Paar interrogation Levant, known for the quote: “There’s a good enactment betwixt genius and insanity; I person erased this line.”

It is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright, known for the Quills play and movie and Grey Gardens musical, and directed by Lisa Peterson, and explores “fame, artistry and the fragility of genius”.

Wright said: “Good Night, Oscar was 1 of my precise happiest Broadway experiences, and a richly satisfying collaboration with the celebrated Sean Hayes and our manager Lisa Peterson.

“I can’t hold to present the irascible, indefatigable whirlwind that was Oscar Levant to London audiences. He’d beryllium thrilled to play the Barbican, adjacent posthumously.”

Producer Howard Panter said: “We are delighted to beryllium bringing Good Night, Oscar to the Barbican this summer.

“Following the immense occurrence of our erstwhile summertime productions, including Anything Goes, A Strange Loop and Kiss Me, Kate, the Barbican summertime has go a highly anticipated fixture successful London’s theatrical calendar.

“With the summation of Good Night, Oscar alongside our precocious announced Fiddler On The Roof, this play erstwhile again promises world-class storytelling and unforgettable performances.”

Hayes starred successful Will And Grace from 1998 to 2006, and returned for the reboot – which aired from 2017 to 2020 – on with McCormack, Megan Mullally, who played affluent neighbour Karen Walker, and Debra Messing arsenic the uptight Grace Adler.

He won an Emmy for his performance, and was nominated aggregate times for Golden Globes.

Hayes precocious portrayed Larry David’s lawyer successful the last play of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and is acceptable to look successful enactment thriller The Running Man, and Bradley Cooper-directed Is This Thing On?

Good Night, Oscar volition tally from July 31 to September 21 astatine the Barbican Theatre.