Katie Brayben and Andrew Rannells to Star in Tammy Faye on Broadway

Well bless their hearts! Olivier winner Katie Brayben and Tony nominee Andrew Rannells have signed on to star in Broadway's upcoming Tammy Faye musical. Previews will begin October 19, with an official opening set for November 14. Get an advanced look at the show with the trailer above, which also features composer Elton John in his return to Broadway.

Brayben will play Tammy Faye Bakker, alongside Rannells as Jim Bakker. Both are reprising their performances from the musical's world premiere at London's Almeida Theatre in 2022, which earned Brayben her second Olivier Award, and Rannells his first nomination. Read what London critics had to say here. Casting is by C12 Casting/Carrie Gardner, Jullian Cimini, with full casting to be announced at a later date.

The production has also revealed it will play the newly refurbished Palace Theater, making it the first Broadway musical to do so post-renovation. The historic theatre closed in 2018 to be lifted and make room for new retail space below.

Tammy Faye features music by Tony winner and five-time Grammy winner Elton John, lyrics by the Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears, and a book by James Graham (Dear England). Olivier winner Rupert Goold (Patriots, Dear England) will again direct after staging the London bow. The world premiere earned four Olivier Award nominations, including Best Musical.

Based on the life of American evangelist Tammy Faye Messner, Tammy Faye tells the story of Messner's rise to national recognition atop a Christian television empire. She and her then-husband and fellow televangelist Jim Bakker founded The PTL Club (Praise the Lord) in 1974, a platform they used to preach to millions. Messner, who died in 2007, was noted for her compassion for the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS epidemic, despite conflict between the community and the church.

Goold is reuniting much of his London creative team for the Broadway premiere, including choreographer Lynne Page (Ink), orchestrators Tom Deering and Mark Dickman (Deering is also music supervisor, arranger, and has penned additional music), scenic designer Bunny Christie, costume designer Katrina Lindsay, lighting designer Neil Austin, and video designer Finn Ross. Joining the team for the Broadway run is sound designer Nick Lidster for Autograph.