Thurgood, Starring Jones, May be Bound for Broadway

Thurgood, the biographical play by George Stevens Jr. in which James Earl Jones played Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, may be headed for Broadway, according to The New York Times.

Jones starred in the title role of the one-man play at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, CT earlier this year; Leonard Foglia (Master Class, On Golden Pond) directed the production. "This has been a workshop for us. We've done 12 or 13 performances, and Westport embraced us. It was really a wonderful opportunity. And now it's just finding a block of time when we can do it on Broadway," Stevens said.

Thurgood "is the remarkable, triumphant and exciting story of Thurgood Marshall, who rose from a childhood in the backstreets of Baltimore to the Supreme Court of the United States. Along the way, Mr. Marshall overcame many adversities but through them all, remained focused and positive to maintain the great country he wanted to serve. And did. Thurgood brings to the stage the words, wit, tenacity and wisdom of one of America's greatest heroes," stated Westport press ontes.

Jones last appeared on Broadway (and received a Tony nomination for his work) in On Golden Pond, although his run was cut short by illness. Possessing an instantly recoganizable voice, he is renowned as a Shakespearean actor who has performed the title roles in Othello and King Lear, among others. The recipient of two Tonys, four Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Cable ACEs, two OBIEs, five Drama Desk Awards and a Grammy, he has also appeared on Broadway in Fences, MASTER HAROLD...and the boys, Of Mice and Men, The Iceman Cometh and others. Among his film credits are providing the voice of Mufasa in The Lion King and--his most iconic role--the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies.