Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Driving Miss Daisy Pulls Up To Broadway

Driving Miss Daisy Pulls Up To Broadway

Tomorrow evening (October 7), Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Driving Miss Daisy finally makes its Broadway debut after first premiering Off-Broadway 23 years ago.

With David Esbjornson behind the wheel to steer the play, this production has already become a very hot ticket because of its three top-drawer, Tony-winning actors. Vanessa Redgrave will portray Daisy Werthan, James Earl Jones plays her chauffeur and friend Hoke Colburn and Boyd Gaines returns to Broadway as Daisy's son Boolie, who insists his mother's car keys be taken away.

The official Driving Miss Daisy site describes the comedic play as follows:

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 a stubborn Southern matriarch and her compassionate chauffeur. Their iconic tale of pride, changing times and the transformative power of friendship has warmed the hearts of millions, and is being performed for the first time on a Broadway stage.

Before I ever saw that Oscar-winning film, I caught Driving Miss Daisy on a West End stage in 1988. I was fortunate to see the late Dame Wendy Hiller and a young Clarke Peters in the two primary roles. It didn't matter that the set design was incredibly spare because the two of them were simply magnificent. It remains one of the most memorable nights I've ever enjoyed at the theatre.

Previews for this new "strictly limited engagement" begin October 7 at the John Golden Theatre. The show opens October 25 and is only slated to run through January 29, 2011.

To see this trio of stage greats demonstrate their acting prowess, is it any wonder that many performances are already selling out?

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).


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Labels: Alfred Uhry, Boyd Gaines, Broadway, Clarke Peters, Driving Miss Daisy, James Earl Jones, Play, Revival, Trailer, Vanessa Redgrave, Wendy Hiller

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Wednesday, October 06, 2010