Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell lead MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING transfer to Broadway

Photo credit: Marc Brenner

Tony Award and multiple Olivier Award winning director/producer Jamie Lloyd has announced that Tony Award nominee and Golden Globe Award winner Tom Hiddleston and three-time Olivier Award nominee and Golden Globe Award nominee Hayley Atwell, who enchanted London critics and set box office records last spring, will bring their critically adored performances as Benedick and Beatrice in William Shakespeare’s giddily funny and beautifully tender battle of wits Much Ado About Nothing to Broadway this autumn for 10 weeks only at a Shubert theatre to be announced.

Lloyd’s production of Much Ado About Nothing, which played the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London’s West End, was described as “a brilliantly inventive, much needed blast of fun” by The Telegraph, and Time Out, in their five-star review, exclaimed it was “an ecstatic, hilarious masterpiece” and called it “the #1 Best Show of the Year.” For his performance as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Hiddleston was heralded as “superb” by the Financial Times, and Atwell’s Beatrice was described as “simply magnificent” by The Standard.

In November, the production was nominated for four Standard Theatre Awards, the most of any production, including Best Director for Lloyd, Best Actor for Hiddleston, and Best Actress for Atwell. And last week, the production was nominated for four Critics’ Circle Awards including Best Director for Lloyd, and Best Shakespearean Performances for both Hiddleston and Atwell.

Lloyd said: “Working with both Tom and Hayley again on Much Ado About Nothing at the Drury Lane was exhilarating. The chemistry between the two of them was palpable from the first rehearsal and I could sense it was a magical pairing for the ages. It’s an honor to bring their joyous performances in Shakespeare’s beloved comedy to Broadway this autumn.”

Hiddleston said: “For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to play Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. Working with Jamie Lloyd and Hayley Atwell on Shakespeare’s most warm-hearted play has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my performing life. I could not be more thrilled to bring this jubilant and joyous production to Broadway. Jamie Lloyd has anchored Shakespeare’s profoundly romantic poetry and comedy at the heart of this production, and decorated the play with music, dancing, love, and laughter. It’s an honor to have been invited back to the stage in New York”.

Atwell said: “After 20 years on the stages of London’s West End, it is a huge honour for me to be invited to make my Broadway debut playing Beatrice in this electric production of Much Ado About Nothing. We’re thrilled new audiences will experience this story through Jamie’s innovative direction. This is a modern celebration of universal themes.”

Additional information about Much Ado About Nothing on Broadway’s strictly limited 10-week run including ticketing, theatre, production dates, additional casting, and creative team will be announced shortly.

For more info on Much Ado About Nothing, click here