Helen Mirren to star at Washington, DC's Shakespeare Theatre

February 18, 4:19 PMDC Art Travel ExaminerMarsha Dubrow

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Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren will appear at Washington, DC's Shakespeare Theatre in September, the company's Artistic Director Michael Kahn announced.

Tickets sold out within less than five hours of going on sale to the public, the Shakespeare Theatre Company said.

Best known for her role in PBS's "Prime Suspect", Dame Helen Mirren will star as the title character in Jean Racine's epic tragedy, "Phèdre". 

The show, a new production from Britain's Royal National Theatre, also features Dominic Cooper, from the Broadway and film versions of "The History Boys", and the film "Mamma Mia".

Speaking of mamma mia, Phèdre is passionately in love with her stepson. "Look at me -- see a woman in frenzy. I am in love," bemoans Queen Phèdre.  

Mirren, as Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen", won the 2007 Oscar for Best Actress.

The only U.S. appearance of "Phèdre" will be at the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Sidney Harman Hall (Sixth and F Streets, N.W. in DC's Gallery Place neighborhood) September 17-26 for 12 performances. 

The play was adapted by Ted Hughes, the renowned British poet -- and husband of poet Sylvia Plath when she committed suicide at the age of 30 in 1963. His collection of poems about their tumultuous love, "Birthday Letters", was published unexpectedly months before he died of cancer in 1998. At the time of his death, his version of "Phèdre" was appearing on the London stage.