American actress Tyne Daly will portray operatic diva Maria Callas in the London transfer of sell-out Broadway drama Master Class.

Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning play will run at the Vaudeville theatre from 21 January to 28 April.

McNally’s play, which was first staged in 1995, invites the audience to one of Callas’s famous master classes where, late in her career, she dares the next generation to make the same sacrifices and rise to the same heights that made her the most celebrated and the most controversial singer of her time.

Daly is best known for playing Mary Beth Lacey in US cop series Cagney And Lacey, for which she won four Emmy Awards. She collected a further two Emmys for performances in Judging Amy and Christy, while her stage performance in Gypsy earned her a Tony Award.

Prior to the arrival of Master Class, which is directed by Stephen Wadsworth, the Vaudeville theatre hosts the hit revival of Arthur Miller’s Broken Glass, which stars Antony Sher and runs until 10 December. Broken Glass is followed by the family friendly duo, Potted Panto and Swallows And Amazons.

MA