Princess Diana has been a queer icon ever since she married into the Royal Family in 1981 and became the most famous woman in the world. She notoriously dressed in drag so that Freddie Mercury could sneak her into a gay bar. Princess Di also opened the United Kingdom's first HIV/AIDS unit at London Middlesex Hospital and, in front of the world, shook hands with a man suffering from AIDS without wearing gloves at a time it was still believed AIDS could be transmitted by touch.

Now the "People's Princess" will be immortalized in a world-premiere musical entitled, Diana that debuts at San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse (a launch pad for many Broadway-bound productions) from February 19-April 7, 2019. The show comes from director and Tony® Award-winner Christopher Ashley, and Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, the writers behind the Tony® Award-winning musical Memphis.

Jeanna de Waal will step into the titular role. The British actress has appeared on Broadway as Lauren in Kinky Boots and Heather in American Idiot, and originating the Waitress role of Dawn at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

“To bring Diana to life onstage is obviously a huge privilege,” de Waal said in a video interview. “I feel very daunted by the prospect, but I hope people who didn’t know about her and weren’t aware of her journey leave the theater with an idea of what she did for the world. She made everyone feel special, from the highest person to the lowest-ranking person, and I think we want to celebrate her.”

Tickets for Diana are currently on sale at the La Jolla Playhouse website.