It sold-out on Broadway, now its heading for London's West End in December 2009 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will showcase at the Novello Theatre. I must admit I’m way more excited about the line-up than the actual play itself.
It features a colourful cast of thespians I’ve grown up watching on both the big & small screens.
I’m a huge fan of the Director Debbie Allen and cannot even begin to run down the list of credits this woman has racked up along the years. Allen is a Hollywood powerhouse both in front & behind the camera. She choreographed the Oscars 10 times and choreographed for both Janet & Michael Jackson. For everybody who ‘knows’ I only have to mention ‘FAME’ or ‘A Different World’ and the good old memories come rushing back.
I remember watching both programs as an 80’s kid thinking…I can’t wait to be a teenager. They sure don’t make em like they used to…but I digress (if you want to know where all the black sitcoms have gone, you’ll be please to know that -WE DO TOO CLICK HERE to read more)
So where was I…ah yes so Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is directed by Debbie Allen and also stars her sister Phylicia Rashad (yep of the Cosby Show fame) this woman is still so beautiful and has so much grace, she’s one of our Hollywood gems. I can only count on 1 hand the times I’ve seen these two sister together, they’ve both done a fantastic job of carving out very separate, successful careers from each other.
An actress from the new-school of black Hollywood is Sanaa Lathan, you’ve seen her in ‘Brown Sugar and one of my favourite films ‘The Best Man’ (before this film came out NOBODY in the Britain knew how to do the hustle…so quite fittingly we’ve therefore re-named the hustle - ‘The Candy Dance) Sanaa’s father is also none other than Hollywood Director Stan Lathan (Stan is also the agent of Kojo the comedian)…and the connections continue.
The play stars James Earl Jones (King Jaffe Joffer / Mufasa), the UK’s very own Adrian Lester whose most recent work includes ‘Hustle’ and ‘Bonekickers’. Adrian also had a re-occurring role in the hit series ‘Girlfriends’ (Remember your girls Joan, Toni, Mya & Lynn…I miss that show) Lester played the love interested of Tracee Ellis-Ross and they made quite an entertaining couple.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear that RICHARD BLACKWOOD is also in the cast line-up – we’re proud of you Rich. So there you have it there’s someone for everyone.
It seems quite surreal that all this talent will be performing together under one roof IN LONDON.
The show starts in December 2009 and will be running at the Novello theatre, these tickets will probably sell like hot cakes so purchase yours and get out there in support of great theatre.
Click here to watch the Promo Video
Quick run-down of the play…
In Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, a influential Southern family attend a birthday celebration for Big Daddy (James Earl Jones), Big Daddy in unaware he has a terminal illness. In the pursuit of acquiring their share of his estate, the family hides the truth about his diagnosis from him & Big Mama (Phylicia Rashad). Former football star Brick (Adrian Lester) and his gorgeous but sexually frustrated wife Maggie (Sanaa Lathan) are experiencing problems. As the details of their troubled relationship unfolds, as do a shockwave of family secrets.
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