Update: Al Pacino-Led GOD LOOKED AWAY to Get L.A. Run Prior to Broadway

Last week, BWW reported that Al Pacino, who recently appeared on Broadway in David Mamet's CHINA DOLL, is set to take on the role of iconic playwright Tennessee Williams in Dotson Rader's autobiographical new play, WHEN GOD LOOKED AWAY, co-starring Judith Light. According to reports, following "secret performances" held in Los Angeles earlier this month, producers were looking for a New York Theater and hoping to reach the Great White Way before the end of the year in order to qualify for Tony Award consideration.

Today, Showbiz411's Roger Friedman reports that the Broadway production will most likely be preceded by a run in Los Angeles. A source tells Friedman, "Al had such a bad time with reviews in David Mamet's China Doll last year, he wanted to do a soft opening far from Broadway first." Friedman also shares that based on initial reviews, the show will mark Pacino's comeback "in a big way."

Robert Allan Ackerman will helm the production with THE COLOR PURPLE's Eric Falkenstein serving as lead producer. In addition to Tony winners Light and Pacino, "The Young and the Restless" soap veteran Miles Villaneuva will star as Rader's alter ego "Bobby," Williams' lover for the final years of his life.

Pacino's other Broadway credits include GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, THE MERCHANT OF VENUS and SALOME. Theater vet Judith Light has most recently appeared on Broadway in THERESE RAQUIN. Her other credits include THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES, OTHER DESERT CITIES, LOMBARDI and HERZL.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos