Mariska Hargitay will make her Broadway debut in “Every Brilliant Thing” beginning May 26 at the Hudson Theatre, succeeding Daniel Radcliffe and later being followed by Tracee Ellis Ross. The “Law & Order: SVU” star says she cried, laughed, and felt the play’s
Mariska Hargitay has spent decades bringing Olivia Benson to life on “Law & Order: SVU,” but the setting is changing. On May 26, the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress will step onto the Broadway stage for her first time in “Every Brilliant Thing” at the Hudson Theatre.
Her arrival begins a tightly wound run that starts with Daniel Radcliffe. Radcliffe closes his solo-play run on May 24, before Hargitay takes over. Hargitay’s final performance is set for July 5, when actress Tracee Ellis Ross succeeds her in the role beginning July 7.
The Broadway revival, written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, has already earned Tony Award nominations for Best Revival of a Play and Best Leading Actor in a Play for Radcliffe.
In a statement announcing the casting, Hargitay described reading the play as an emotional sweep. “I read ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ and cried, rejoiced, laughed, cried some more, and loved it so much,” she said. “It feels like an extraordinary gift to make my Broadway debut. the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. with a play that affirms life so emphatically.”.
“Every Brilliant Thing” centers on an unnamed narrator navigating depression. family struggles. and grief while creating a running list of life’s small joys—ranging from “ice cream” to “the color yellow.” The list begins as an attempt to comfort the narrator’s suicidal mother. then grows into a lifelong reminder of hope and human connection.
The production is built as a one-person play with heavy audience interaction. with theatergoers helping portray supporting characters throughout the performance. while the show itself first debuted at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before later moving Off-Broadway and airing as an HBO special starring co-writer Jonny Donahoe.
Directed by Jeremy Herrin and Macmillan, the current Broadway production transferred from London’s West End earlier this year.
Before the curtains even rise for Hargitay’s Broadway stretch. her “SVU” background has already become part of the show’s draw. She has portrayed Olivia Benson on “Law & Order: SVU” since the series premiered in 1999. earning eight Emmy nominations and a 2006 win. and receiving a Golden Globe Award in 2005 for the role.
Her longtime co-star Kelli Giddish said the cast has rallied behind Hargitay as she prepares for the Broadway bow. “I’m so excited for her,” Giddish said. “The whole set was like, ‘You’re in a play! You’re doing Broadway!’”
The career arc behind that debut reaches beyond acting as well. Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, which supports survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. A well-known fan of the New York Knicks, she has become pals with NBA superstar Jalen Brunson. She has also produced several documentaries, including “I Am Evidence” and “Emanuel.”.
In 2025, she made her feature directorial debut with the documentary “My Mom Jayne,” exploring the life and legacy of her mother, Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield.
For now, the dates are set—May 26 at the Hudson Theatre for Hargitay, May 24 for Radcliffe’s closing, and July 7 for Tracee Ellis Ross—turning a long-running television persona into something closer to an intimate stage companion.
Mariska Hargitay Broadway Every Brilliant Thing Hudson Theatre Daniel Radcliffe Tracee Ellis Ross Law & Order: SVU Tony nominations Jeremy Herrin Duncan Macmillan Jonny Donahoe