#1
Posted: 7/31/12 at 1:45pm
BRISBANE will host the Australian premiere of Driving Miss Daisy starring Hollywood royalty Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones.
The Courier-Mail can exclusively reveal producer John Frost is bringing the multi-award-winning pair to Brisbane in February for a limited season of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play that was turned into an Academy Award-winning film.
"I wanted to do something up in Brisbane and make it really special," Mr Frost said. "When this opportunity came along, it was a natural fit."
Mr Frost began pursuing the piece for an Australian season when it opened on Broadway in 2010.
He was able to secure Earl Jones, who played the role of Hoke in the Broadway and West End seasons but Vanessa Redgrave, who played Daisy opposite him, wasn't available.
Instead he turned to acclaimed actress Angela Lansbury who was starring opposite Earl Jones in The Best Man on Broadway.
Frost said both stars were excited to be coming to Brisbane.
Events Queensland helped lure the production to Brisbane with a modest investment and chief executive John O'Sullivan said it was a great coup for the city.
"To get this premiere season of Driving Miss Daisy is a great move for our cultural tourism," he said.
"These are two superstars in every definition of the word and this is a testament to the fact that the city is recognised nationally and internationally as a cultural event city in its own right."
Ms Lansbury has never played Miss Daisy before so fans from around the world will need to travel to Brisbane for the opportunity to see her tackle the iconic role.
The piece will be presented in the intimate Playhouse Theatre at QPAC giving the audience a very upclose experience with the stars.
The season begins on February 5.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/daisy-driven-to-brisbane-for-february-grand-premiere/story-e6freoof-1226439752752
The Courier-Mail can exclusively reveal producer John Frost is bringing the multi-award-winning pair to Brisbane in February for a limited season of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play that was turned into an Academy Award-winning film.
"I wanted to do something up in Brisbane and make it really special," Mr Frost said. "When this opportunity came along, it was a natural fit."
Mr Frost began pursuing the piece for an Australian season when it opened on Broadway in 2010.
He was able to secure Earl Jones, who played the role of Hoke in the Broadway and West End seasons but Vanessa Redgrave, who played Daisy opposite him, wasn't available.
Instead he turned to acclaimed actress Angela Lansbury who was starring opposite Earl Jones in The Best Man on Broadway.
Frost said both stars were excited to be coming to Brisbane.
Events Queensland helped lure the production to Brisbane with a modest investment and chief executive John O'Sullivan said it was a great coup for the city.
"To get this premiere season of Driving Miss Daisy is a great move for our cultural tourism," he said.
"These are two superstars in every definition of the word and this is a testament to the fact that the city is recognised nationally and internationally as a cultural event city in its own right."
Ms Lansbury has never played Miss Daisy before so fans from around the world will need to travel to Brisbane for the opportunity to see her tackle the iconic role.
The piece will be presented in the intimate Playhouse Theatre at QPAC giving the audience a very upclose experience with the stars.
The season begins on February 5.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/daisy-driven-to-brisbane-for-february-grand-premiere/story-e6freoof-1226439752752
