In CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, "Big Daddy" Pollitt, the richest cotton planter in the Mississippi Delta, is about to celebrate his 65th birthday. He is distressed by the rocky relationship between his beloved son Brick, an aging football hero who has turned to drink, and his beautiful and feisty wife Maggie. As the hot summer evening unfolds, the veneer of Southern gentility slips away as unpleasant truths emerge and greed, lies and suppressed sexuality reach a boiling point.
Today in 1931, Broadway veteran James Earl Jones was born. He has won Tony awards in 1969 for The Great White Hope and in 1987 for Fences. He has acted in many Shakespearean roles: Othello, King Lear, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Abhorson in Measure for Measure, and Claudius in Hamlet. On April 7, 2005, James Earl Jones and Leslie Uggams headed the cast in an African-American Broadway revival version of On Golden Pond, directed by Leonard Foglia and produced by Jeffrey Finn. In February 2008, he starred on Broadway as Big Daddy in a limited-run, all-African-American production of Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Debbie Allen and mounted at the Broadhurst Theatre. In October 2010, Jones returned to the Broadway stage in Alfred Uhry's Driving Miss Daisy along with Vanessa Redgrave at the Golden Theatre. In November 2011, Jones starred in Driving Miss Daisy in London's West End, and on November 12 Jones received his honorary Oscar in front of the audience at the Wyndham's Theatre, which was presented to him by Ben Kingsley.
Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: The Broadway community joins together for an UPRISING OF LOVE tonight, Angela Lansbury will be honored by the American Theatre Wing, an original ROCK OF AGES cast member returns and more!
CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF was always the playwright's favorite among all his plays. Theatre Palisades is presenting the original version of the script as written by Tennessee Williams before Eli Kazan, who was already hired to direct both Broadway and the film version, forced him to re-write the script to conform to the mores in McCarthy era 1955. This compelling original version has been professionally produced only two times, in 1958 in London and in 1974 on Broadway with Elizabeth Ashley, Keir Dullea and Fred Gwynne.
Theatre Palisades is presenting Tennessee Williams' original script of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF opening June 6. Since this script is rarely produced and differs from the well-known movie version featuring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman, I decided to speak with the show's director, Michael-Anthony Nozzi, for more information about the production, the first time the original script is being presented in Los Angeles.
People's Light & Theatre presents the regional premiere of Dear Elizabeth running today, April 2-27 on the Steinbright Stage. Lisa Rothe directs. People's Light & Theatre is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355.
People's Light & Theatre presents the regional premiere of Dear Elizabeth running April 2-27 on the Steinbright Stage. Lisa Rothe directs. People's Light & Theatre is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355.
With the reopening of one of the country's oldest community theaters and some unique staging in unexpected venues, New Orleans' historic French Quarter will pulse with productions of Tennessee Williams' works, as well as some inspired by or dedicated to the legendary playwright and his life in the city he considered his "spiritual home."
Today in 1931, Broadway veteran James Earl Jones was born. He has won Tony awards in 1969 for The Great White Hope and in 1987 for Fences. He has acted in many Shakespearean roles: Othello, King Lear, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Abhorson in Measure for Measure, and Claudius in Hamlet. On April 7, 2005, James Earl Jones and Leslie Uggams headed the cast in an African-American Broadway revival version of On Golden Pond, directed by Leonard Foglia and produced by Jeffrey Finn. In February 2008, he starred on Broadway as Big Daddy in a limited-run, all-African-American production of Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Debbie Allen and mounted at the Broadhurst Theatre. In October 2010, Jones returned to the Broadway stage in Alfred Uhry's Driving Miss Daisy along with Vanessa Redgrave at the Golden Theatre. In November 2011, Jones starred in Driving Miss Daisy in London's West End, and on November 12 Jones received his honorary Oscar in front of the audience at the Wyndham's Theatre, which was presented to him by Ben Kingsley.
Real life husband and wife Keir Dullea and Mia Dillon play the classic couple 'Big Daddy' and 'Big Mama' in Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize Winning play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at this year's TW Festival, 50% Illusion: Tennessee Williams and Women, in an upcoming production from the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT).
Below, we bring you a photo flashback of the marquee at the Music Box Theatre for the 2003 Broadway revival, featuring Ashley Judd, Jason Patric, Ned Beatty and Margo Martindale.
Real life husband and wife Keir Dullea and Mia Dillon play the classic couple 'Big Daddy' and 'Big Mama' in Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize Winning play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, opening August 31 at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT).
Real life husband and wife Keir Dullea and Mia Dillon play the classic couple 'Big Daddy' and 'Big Mama' in Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize Winning play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at this year's TW Festival, 50% Illusion: Tennessee Williams and Women, in an upcoming production from the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT).
Join the Des Moines Community Playhouse in Honoring Playhouse Legends today, July 20. The event begins at 4:00 PM with a cocktails and hors d'oeuvres reception. The program follows at 4:30 PM. Tickets for Honoring Playhouse Legends are $25 per person and may be reserved online at dmplayhouse.com or by calling the Playhouse ticket office at515-277-6261.
Join the Des Moines Community Playhouse in Honoring Playhouse Legends on Saturday, July 20. The event begins at 4:00 PM with a cocktails and hors d'oeuvres reception. The program follows at 4:30 PM. Tickets for Honoring Playhouse Legends are $25 per person and may be reserved online at dmplayhouse.com or by calling the Playhouse ticket office at515-277-6261.
This September theater artists from around the globe will converge on the seaside village of Provincetown, where Williams worked over several summers, to celebrate America's great playwright with a program of plays, dance, film and performance art organized around the theme of Tennessee Williams and Women: 50% Illusion.
According to The Independent, Jessica Chastain, Scarlett Johansson, Amanda Seyfried and Reese Witherspoon are among the actresses being considered for the part of Hilary Clinton in the upcoming biopic RODHAM.
Tony award-winning actor Elizabeth Ashley, well-known as one of the definitive interpreters of Tennessee Williams' women, will share stories of her friendship with the great American playwright and the classic roles she played at this year's fundraising Gala to launch the 8th season of the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival: 50% Illusion: Tennessee Williams and Women.
Today, we're featuring Fred Gwynne circa 1984. teve Zissou, an appearance on Arrested Development and more. Gwynne was best known for his roles in the 1960s sitcoms Car 54, Where Are You? and The Munsters, as well as his later roles in Pet Sematary and My Cousin Vinny. In 1974, he appeared in the role of Big Daddy Pollitt in the Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Elizabeth Ashley, Keir Dullea and Kate Reid. In 1975 he played the Stage Manager in Our Town at the American Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, Connecticut. He returned to Broadway in 1976 as Colonel J. C. Kinkaid in two parts of A Texas Trilogy.
Lindsay Posner directs Rebecca Lenkiewicz' new stage adaptation of Henry James' The Turn of the Screw at the Almeida Theatre which runs until 16 March 2013, with press night on 24 January. The cast comprises Caroline Bartleet (a woman), Laurence Belcher (Miles), Eoin Geoghegan (a man), Gemma Jones (Mrs. Grose), Anna Madeley (The Governess), Orlando Wells (Sackville) and Isabella Blake, Emilia Jones and Lucy Morton who will alternate the role of Flora. The Turn of the Screw is sponsored by Pinsent Masons LLP.
Today in 1931, Broadway veteran James Earl Jones was born. He has won Tony awards in 1969 for The Great White Hope and in 1987 for Fences. He has acted in many Shakespearean roles: Othello, King Lear, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Abhorson in Measure for Measure, and Claudius in Hamlet. On April 7, 2005, James Earl Jones and Leslie Uggams headed the cast in an African-American Broadway revival version of On Golden Pond, directed by Leonard Foglia and produced by Jeffrey Finn. In February 2008, he starred on Broadway as Big Daddy in a limited-run, all-African-American production of Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Debbie Allen and mounted at the Broadhurst Theatre. In October 2010, Jones returned to the Broadway stage in Alfred Uhry's Driving Miss Daisy along with Vanessa Redgrave at the Golden Theatre. In November 2011, Jones starred in Driving Miss Daisy in London's West End, and on November 12 Jones received his honorary Oscar in front of the audience at the Wyndham's Theatre, which was presented to him by Ben Kingsley.
Lindsay Posner returns to the Almeida to direct Rebecca Lenkiewicz' new stage adaptation of Henry James' The Turn of the Screw from 18 January - 16 March 2013, with press night on 24 January. The cast comprises Caroline Bartleet (a woman), Laurence Belcher (Miles), Eoin Geoghegan (a man), Gemma Jones (Mrs. Grose), Anna Madeley (The Governess), Orlando Wells (Sackville) and Isabella Blake, Emilia Jones and Lucy Morton who will alternate the role of Flora. The Turn of the Screw is sponsored by Pinsent Masons LLP.
Warner Bros. announced today that the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz will be fully restored and converted into 3D, as a part of the studio's 90th Anniversary celebration next year. The film is currently being restored and will be released on Blu-ray 3D in either September or October of next year.
In an effort to create greater accessibility for students and encourage their attendance throughout the run of Lorraine Hansberry's landmark play, "A Raisin in the Sun," directed by Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad at Westport Country Playhouse, tickets for students will be $15 at all performances. The play is appropriate for ages 12 and up. The student ticket access program is supported in part by a grant from The Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation.
According to an Equity casting notice, Rob Ashord is set to helm the upcoming Broadway revival of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof in the Spring 2013. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Scarlett Johansson, who won a 2010 Tony Award for her Broadway debut in A View From The Bridge, is rumored to play Maggie in the production. Those in the running to play Brick are Star Trek's Chris Pine and Johansson's The Avenger's co-star Jeremy Renner. Casting options for the remainder of the cast remain unknown.
The New York Times reports today that a Scarlett Johansson is in talks to star in a revival of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof on Broadway in the Spring of 2013.
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