After 12 years of negotiations and organization, the all-African-American revival of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” will finally be staged on the Broadhurst Theater, starting in mid-February with an opening night set for March 6. Tony-nominated actor, choreographer and TV director Debbie Allen will direct.
Full release after the jump.
CAT FINDS A HOME…
The all African-American production of
Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize winning play
CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF
Directed by
DEBBIE ALLEN
Will begin its limited run on
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Opening, Thursday, March 6, 2008
At Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre
New York, NY (November 8, 2007): The previously announced Broadway run of the African- American production of Tennessee Williams’ CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF directed by Debbie Allen will hit the Great White Way beginning the week of February 11, 2008 at Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre. This production of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF is being presented by Tin Cat Productions and produced by Stephen Byrd. Cast will be announcing soon.
Hypocrisy, greed and secret passions threaten to tear apart a wealthy but dysfunctional Mississippi family in Tennessee Williams’ stunning American masterpiece. CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF searingly portrays the larger-than-life characters of Maggie "the Cat," her alcoholic husband, Brick, and the dominating family patriarch, Big Daddy.
CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF has been revived on Broadway several times before, but this production marks the first African – American production approved by William’s estate for the Broadway stage.
“I am so proud to be able to bring this amazing story back to the Broadway stage. I have been on a 12 year journey with this vision of an African-American version of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and am ecstatic that Ms. Debbie Allen will helm this production. It will truly be a historic presentation of a classic piece of theatre.” Stephen Byrd, producer Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
“I am thrilled to stand at the helm of this unique production as we navigate our way through Tennessee Williams’ riveting and explosive American classic. Cat, said to be his favorite of his many plays, achieves a timeless coherence with its characters as they wrestle with the universal struggles of life, love, money, sex and death” Debbie Allen, director.
Press Contact: Springer Associates PR/ (212) 354-4660
Box Office opening date will be announced soon.
DEBBIE ALLEN (director) continues to be one of the most respected, relevant, and versatile talents in the entertainment industry today.
Ms. Allen, Artist in Residence for over ten years at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., has created six original musicals with James Ingram, Arturo Sandoval and Diane Louie. Pepito’s Story (1996), Brothers of the Knight (1997), Soul Possessed, Dreams (2000) Pearl 2001 and Dancing In the Wings (2005). In December 2006, Debbie Allen debuted her musical stage production, “The Bayou Legend” at the Glorya Kaufman Hall, UCLA. In April 2007 Ms. Allen will premier Alex in Wonderland, a musical which explores the relevance of fairytales to a 13 year old boy, at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C..
Debbie Allen is an internationally recognized director/choreographer known for working with The Royal Shakespeare at Stratford, and The Legendary Rahbani Family in Lebanon. A Culture Connect Ambassador Ms. Allen represented the U.S. in visits to Brazil, China, Italy, and India. A member of the prestigious President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, a board member of the American Film Institute, and an Executive Committee member of UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film, and Television. Ms. Allen expands the opportunities in arts education for young people all over the world.
Allen holds the distinction of having choreographed the Academy Awards a record ten times, six in consecutive years. Directed and choreographed for legendary artists Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Gwen Verdon, Lena Horne and Sammy Davis Jr. to name a few.
Ms. Allen received the Golden Globe for her role as “Lydia Grant” in the hit series, Fame, A three time Emmy Award winner for Choreography , the series Fame, and The Motown 25th Anniversary Special. Ms. Allen has won 10 Image awards as a director, actress, choreographer and producer for Fame, A Different World, Motown 25th, The Academy Awards, The Debbie Allen Special and Amistad .
In 1996, she produced the Steven Spielberg epic film Amistad. A much sought after director and producer for television, her credits include Fame, Family Ties, Quantum Leap, The Twilight Zone, A Different World, Fresh Prince Of Bel Air pilot, The Jaime Foxx Show, The Parkers, That’s so Raven, All of Us, Girlfriends, and Everybody Hates Chris. Her Movie’s for television include Disney’s Polly and Polly Coming Home, the CBS classic Stompin’ At The Savoy and the critically acclaimed Old Settler starring Phylicia Rashad. Recently, Allen directed the second highest rated original movie in Lifetime Channel history, Life is Not A Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story.
Allen received favorable notices for her role as Richard Pryor’s feisty wife in the semi-autobiographical film, JoJo Dancer, Your Life is Calling. Her other feature films include Milos Foreman’s Ragtime, and The Fish That Saved Pittsburg, which she also choreographed.
Debbie Allen made her Broadway debut in the chorus of Purlie. She created the role of Beneatha in the Tony Award winning musical Raisin, and in the 1979 definitive revival of West Side Story she received the prestigious Drama Desk Award, as well as her first Tony Award nomination. Allen received her second Tony Award nomination in 1986 for her performance in the title role of Bob Fosse’s Sweet Charity. In 1988 Debbie went behind the scenes of the theatre to choreograph the new American musical Carrie with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In 2001, Allen fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles, California. Allen’s academy offers a comprehensive curriculum for boys and girls ages four to eighteen in all the major dance techniques including Classical Ballet, Modern, African, Jazz, and Hip-Hop. In addition, special workshops are held for concentration in the Peking Opera, Martial Arts dance techniques, Flamenco, Salsa, and Tap. Debbie has been able to use her prestige to lure instructors from famous institutions such as the Kirov Ballet, and the Peking Opera. Allen’s studio provides a safe haven for kids to go to after school where dance professional motivate, and teach them to excel in their style of dance. Debbie plays an active role in each student’s career as a dancer by offering her own hands-on instruction.
Allen became Dr. Allen when she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the North Carolina School of the Arts, as well as from her alma mater Howard University.
Debbie is married to All Star NBA World Champion Norman Nixon, and the proud mother of Vivian Nichole and Norman Jr. Her mother Vivian Ayers is a well respected poet who was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her fist book of poetry Spice of Dawns.
In recognition of her amazing career in the entertainment industry, Debbie Allen was honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame – the world’s most famous sidewalk. Debbie’s Walk of Fame star is further proof to her life-long contribution in the entertainment arts, and it is a unique honor in a class by itself.
