BRISBANE will host the Australian premiere of Driving Miss Daisy starring Hollywood royalty Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones.
The Courier-Mail can exclusively reveal producer John Frost is bringing the multi-award-winning pair to Brisbane in February for a limited season of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play that was turned into an Academy Award-winning film.
"I wanted to do something up in Brisbane and make it really special," Mr Frost said. "When this opportunity came along, it was a natural fit."
Mr Frost began pursuing the piece for an Australian season when it opened on Broadway in 2010.
He was able to secure Earl Jones, who played the role of Hoke in the Broadway and West End seasons but Vanessa Redgrave, who played Daisy opposite him, wasn't available.
Instead he turned to acclaimed actress Angela Lansbury who was starring opposite Earl Jones in The Best Man on Broadway.
Frost said both stars were excited to be coming to Brisbane.
Events Queensland helped lure the production to Brisbane with a modest investment and chief executive John O'Sullivan said it was a great coup for the city.
"To get this premiere season of Driving Miss Daisy is a great move for our cultural tourism," he said.
"These are two superstars in every definition of the word and this is a testament to the fact that the city is recognised nationally and internationally as a cultural event city in its own right."
Ms Lansbury has never played Miss Daisy before so fans from around the world will need to travel to Brisbane for the opportunity to see her tackle the iconic role.
The piece will be presented in the intimate Playhouse Theatre at QPAC giving the audience a very upclose experience with the stars.
This is all great of course, and I'm happy for Australian theatregoers, but it's such a shame it won't play in NYC, London or I don't know Paris for just little bit. I also hope Ms. Lansbury will still be able to do that Wes Anderson movie starring Johnny Depp.
You have no idea what kind of sick and shocking things I would do to be able to attend this.
"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999
Wow John Frost is a very talented producer. First Geoffrey Rush in FUNNY THING and now Angela Lansbury in DAISY? Great!
It is a surprising city to start in, though.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Ms. Lansbury and Mr. Jones talking about their upcoming tour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B03M9hvKAZQ Interesting that Lansbury got top billing, while Redgrave was billed after Jones.
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
And what of the Melbourne season? I think this means the Australian Premiere of this tour as Driving Miss Daisy has been seen in Australia previously as recently as last year.
I thought Boyd Gaines outperformed James Earl Jones in the Broadway production (second only to Redgrave, who I woulda swore was from the South). This will be AMAZING.
While I CERTAINLY think Lansbury, Jones, and Redgrave are true stars with a "name," Lansbury's name probably has the most recognition (11 years on a wildly successful tv series) and theatre clout (she has 5 Tonys). That's not to call Jones or Redgrave hacks or aren't gods in the theatre themselves, because of course they are legends. Just saying Lansbury's top billing makes some sense. Plus Jones seems like a good, honest, and "happy to just be workin'" kind of guy so I'm sure he doesn't care either way.
I guess next year is as good a time as any to visit Australia.
There has been talk of Lansbury coming to Australia for the last 35 years. Intially Producers were looking for a musical for her... time has caught up with her and a two hander is what we get now. I only wish I'd have been able to see her 30 years ago in a musical here in Melbourne . Still, better late than never.
Well, good for Aussies that Ms. Lansbury finally honored Australia with her visit. I just wished that your country wasn't so damn far from the rest of the civilized world (no offence) so I could see the play, koalas, platypus, Angela Lansbury live. It's also great shame that she had to withdraw from the first interesting film project in decades because of the play.
I looked at how much it would cost me to see this- wish I hadn't.
Is there even a whisper that this might come to the states?
"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999
As another die-hard fan who can't begin to afford a trip to Australia, let alone survive that long flight without exiting via wheelchair, I also would like to see this production travel to these shores. DAISY just played New York, so that's probably out. How about a limited tour of a small number of major cities--preferably at least one I could drive to?
I would want this production with this cast to play on Broadway as much as anyone else. However, isn't this the same production of the play that was just on Broadway at the Golden, then transfered to the West End? I believe the only difference in casting is that it's Lansbury rather then Redgrave.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
Yes it is. Miss Redgrave was not able to do the Austalian tour, so the producers brought in Ms. Lansbury. Rumor has it Miss Redgrave also did not initially want to take the show to the West End, which was when Miss Lansbury was first approached.
All I know is that the cruise ship I'll be working on in February of next year ports in Australia and if I have a single night available and am remotely close to Brisbane I will do whatever it takes for me to see this. I think it's going to be phenomenal.
In addition to Brisbane the play is also gonna be performed in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Producer John Frost has now announced that due to an unprecedented demand for tickets, following the Brisbane premiere season of Alfred Uhrys Pulitzer Prize-winning classic play Driving Miss Daisy, the production will tour to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Driving Miss Daisy stars two of the worlds greatest living actors five-time Tony Award and three-time Academy Award nominee Angela Lansbury and two-time Tony Award winner and Academy Award winner James Earl Jones, alongside four time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines.
Previously the production had been announced for an exclusive Brisbane season.
A timeless American play, which inspired the beloved Academy Award-winning film, Driving Miss Daisy tells the affecting story of the decades-long relationship between an elderly Southern Jewish woman, Daisy Werthan, and her compassionate African-American chauffeur, Hoke Colburn. Their iconic tale of pride, changing times and the transformative power of friendship has warmed the hearts of millions worldwide.Driving Miss Daisy has recently played sell-out seasons on Broadway and in the West End, directed by David Esbjornson and featuring James Earl Jones. Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones have most recently been performing together in the Broadway production of Gore Vidals The Best Man.
The Brisbane premiere season is almost sold out, so we have persuaded Angela and James to bring Driving Miss Daisy to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, said John Frost. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Australian audiences to see three of the finest actors in the world today, Broadway and Hollywood royalty, in one of the most enduring and popular stage plays of our time. Rarely in our lifetime do we get to see such experience, such talent, on an Australian stage. As the New York and London reviews have said; race, dont walk to get a ticket, as Driving Miss Daisy is unmissable!
Tour Dates
Playhouse, QPAC, Brisbane
From Tuesday 5 February 2013
Performance Times: Tues 7pm, WedSat 7.30pm, Matinees Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm & Sun 3pm
Price: From $89.90*
Bookings: qpac.com.au or phone 136246
Theatre Royal, Sydney
From Friday 1 March 2013
WedSat 7.30pm, Matinees Tues & Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm & Sun 3pm
Price: From $89.90*
Bookings: Ticketmaster.com.au or phone 1300 723 038
Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
From Friday 5 April 2013
Performance Times: WedSat 7.30pm, Matinees Tues & Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm & Sun 3pm
Price: From $89.90*
Bookings: Ticketmaster.com.au or phone 1300 111 011
Her Majestys Theatre, Adelaide
From Friday 17 May 2013
Performance Times: WedSat 7.30pm, Matinees Tues & Wed 1.30pm, Sat 2pm & Sun 3pm