Cat On A Hot Tin Roof: Cast Interviews

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Theatrical history will be made on February 12 when the first all African-American revival of Tennessee Williams' landmark drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof begins performances at the Broadhurst Theatre, in advance of a March 6 opening. At a recent meet-the-press event, TheaterMania spoke with director Debbie Allen -- whose sister Phylicia Rashad will play Big Mama -- and stars Terrence Howard (whose daughter Heavenly will play one of his onstage children), Anika Noni Rose, and the legendary James Earl Jones about their participation in this sure-to-be-talked about production.

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• Terrence
• Howard
• James
• Earl
• Jones
• Cat
• On
• Hot
• Tin
• Roof
• Broadway
• Theatermania
• Debbie
• Allen
• Anika
• NoNi
• Rose

[aeropostalebunny1]

Anika Noni Rose Is So Beautiful and I Love The Way She Talks !

[RyanDriveBy]

@couturesixfour I don't think that they're doing this to seek the approval of a white audience- the story of Big Daddy shows how he worked hard from a very young age to eventually earn his plantation from Ochello/Straw. But I think that casting African Americans in roles that aren't explicitly African American shows progress that casting is not strictly based on race any more! I disagree with your opinion but only because I think this production offers more reason to hope than to fear.

[dlmorrow11]

Time now to produce some of August WIlson's plays with a non-traditional cast.

[couturesixfour]

williams never intended for this work to spoken on black voices, to be portrayed by black minds, and never did he intend for blacks to further his story of a wealthy southern white family. there are so many plays that were written and are still being written, yet we as trained black performers still seek the acceptance of the white audience. the work is great, but it disgusts me that we strive to speak their words while denouncing our own! just my opinion!

[carre8608]

OMG, I didn't know they were making this! I love this movie!!! I want this play on DVD...

[rexleej]

OMG! I had no idea that Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad were sisters.

[wehlawee]

I saw it 2 days before it ended and yes, it was unbelievably good. Surreal for me, watching all that talent in one space and place.

[GDK1]

This was an UNBELIEVEABLE production. Saw it last week and am STILL moved by the performances. If Tony snubs this, there's something SERIOUSLY wrong.

See it!

[alkuha2]

So very proud of this daring rendition; cannot wait to see it. It's one of my favorites, I was sorely disappointed with Judd/Patric showing a few years back, but Ned Beatty's big Daddy stole that show. How will this cast pull off a black family being helmed by a wealthy, southern plantation owner? I can't wait... Mendacity lives!

[KidTunder]

I saw it a couple of weeks ago -- absolultey exellent.