Angela Lansbury to Join James Earl Jones in DRIVING MISS DAISY Australian Tour!

[Will42]

According to NY Magazine, Angela Lansbury, who is currently starring in Gore Vidal'S THE BEST MAN on Broadway, has signed on to star alongside James Earl Jones in an Australian tour of DRIVING MISS DAISY next winter. Tour dates/venues have not yet been announced.

The play, written by Alfred Uhry and directed by David Esbjornson, enjoyed a record breaking sell-out run on Broadway followed by a West End run, both starring Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones. Design is by John Lee Beatty, costumes by Jane Greenwood, lighting is by Peter Kaczorowski , music by Mark Bennett and sound by Christopher Cronin.

Driving Miss Daisy was written by Alfred Uhry in 1987 and debuted Off-Broadway at the Playwrights Horizons Theater. Two years later the play was made into a film with Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy. Uhry received an Oscar® for ‘Best Adapted Screenplay' while the film was awarded ‘Best Picture'.

When Daisy Werthan, a widowed, 72 year-old Jewish woman living in midcentury Atlanta, is deemed too old to drive, her son Boolie hires Hoke Coleburn, an African American man, to serve as her chauffeur. What begins as a troubled and hostile pairing soon blossoms into a profound, life-altering friendship that transcends all the societal boundaries placed between them.

Alfred Uhry is an award winning playwright who has won a Pulitzer prize, an Oscar® and two Tony Awards®. His initial work as a lyricist included Here's Where I Belong and The Robber Bridegroom for which he wrote the book and lyrics. Driving Miss Daisy was his first play and was followed by The Last Night of Ballyhoo and Parade, both of which were Tony Award winning pieces and Without Walls and Edgardo Mine. He also wrote the book for Broadway musical LoveMusik.

Read more: http://broadwayworld.com/article/Angela-Lansbury-to-Join-James-Earl-Jones-in-DRIVING-MISS-DAISY-Australian-Tour-20120430#ixzz1tY6r4Aft

[CurtainPullDowner]

Wow!

[emo_geek]

Lansbury has a career almost as legendary as the actress herself!

[Will42]

Seriously though, the lady is unstoppable. Is she really going on a tour at the age of 87? And in Australia of all places.

[Ed_Mottershead]

God love her!!! If I had the wherewithal, I'd be traveling to Australia -- Miss Daisy is no small part.

[madbrian]

I worry that this part may be too big for her at this point in her career. That said, if this production were anywhere within a few hours driving distance of me, I'd find my way there.

[Will42]

The original New York Magazine article (http://nymag.com/homedesign/spring2012/angela-lansbury-2012-5/) had a shot at her desk. I wonder if Lansbury was offered the role of Mrs. St Maugham in The Chalk Garden. That would be a great role for her.

As for Miss Daisy, she wanted to play that role for a long time and was interested in appearing in a movie version before Jessica Tandy was cast.

[ClapYo'Hands]

My only question is "Why didn't she do this in the West End!?"

[Will42]

The better question is why didn't she play the part in a Broadway revival? I'm sure she would have transfer with the production just like Vanessa Redgrave did.

[rosscoe(au)]

Best News Ever....

[qolbinau]

This is SO exciting! I feel we are lucky sometimes to get transfers (e.g. AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY with the original cast), but to get Lansbury to do a new performance here is so special.

[sydneyboi]

I will actually believe this when it's officially announced and tickets are on sale. Certainly exicitng if it is true...no doubt the ticket prices will be through the roof...

[CarlosAlberto]

LOL @ the channel list on her desk. What channel is Cartoon Network again? Oh, yes: 22!

[EricMontreal22]

Ha I found that funny for some reason too...

[missthemountains]

This is such great news! I wish it would come to the US though... wishful thinking

[nasty_khakis]

I honestly don't buy this. She has said MANY times she has no interest in headlining a show at her age. She refused her role in "Night Music" until they cast a name for Desiree because she didn't want the box office purely on her and her health. I don't see her, in her 80s, touring a large involved role (let's not forget she had problems with lines/memory) in a strange country. I hope this is true though and I hope it is filmed. :)

[emo_geek]

nasty_khakis, I had the same thoughts when first reading the news.

[random person 112]

^She would be coheadlining with James Earl Jones so that might have helped on that part, though i am also skeptical.

[adamgreer]

Maybe Stritch can replace her.

(Stritch would have been brilliant in this role about 15 years ago, but imagine her trying to remember all at that dialogue now?)

[madbrian]

If we're going to retro-cast Stritch, imagine her as Silda in Other Desert Cities when she was age-appropriate.

[chewy5000]

An "Australian tour" would likely only be four or five cities at most, perhaps four months tops.

[hushpuppy]

A few years ago, United was offering a double miles promotion so here is how I spent my Memorial and Labor Day weekends:

Friday: fly from JFK to San Francisco at 5:30pm. Connect to 10:30 pm flight to Sydney
Arrive Sydney Sunday morning 6 am. Drop off bag at hotel. Ferry to Manley for brunch. Enjoy scenery and sunshine. Return ferry to Sydney in time for a little shopping at David Jones before 3pm matinee (GUYS & DOLLS over Memorial Day, AVENUE Q over Labor Day).
Early dinner (jet lag kicking in)
Monday: 2:30 pm flight to San Francisco. Arrive Monday morning. Lunch with friend at In-N-Out Burger. 1:30 pm flight to JFK, arrive around 9:30 pm.
Tuesday morning: back at work. Boss: 'How was your weekend' Me: 'Oh, kinda quiet'.

I'm just saying: It can be done.

[qolbinau]

Wow, I thought I was crazy once spending only 6 days in NYC from Australia. But a weekend is hilarious.

[Gothampc]

I think this time around JEJ should play Daisy and AL should play Hoke.

[Will42]

They totally can and should do that.

[qolbinau]

Apparently it's true. Wow!!

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/the_best_man_woman_NOlWmmZWu7jSrjjstaUuaI