Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival

[MargoChanning]

Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#1

Posted: 11/21/07 at 1:59pm

"Terrence Howard will make his Great White Way debut in February as Brick in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

"It's confirmed. We're there," the show's producer, Stephen Byrd, told me Tuesday. "Terrence and I were together last week; he's on board."

Other stellar names strongly tipped for the African-American production of Tennessee Williams' classic play include Phylicia Rashad, Giancarlo Esposito and James Earl Jones as Big Daddy.

Sources says the plum role of Maggie the Cat - immortalized by Elizabeth Taylor in the 1958 film version opposite Paul Newman - is coming down to either Anika Noni Rose or Kerry Washington. The play will open at the Broadhurst Theatre, after three weeks of previews, on March 6.

Now let's see whether director Debbie Allen makes Brick gay, or fudges it like in the movie!"

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2007/11/21/2007-11-21_terrence_howard_anxious_to_twostep_into_.html

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

re: Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#2

Posted: 11/21/07 at 2:07pm

The whole Debbie Allen issue makes me anxious, but if they are tipping Anika Noni Rose to play Maggie I feel they are going in the right direction. I would love to see Rose back on Broadway and I'm glad that she is a strong contender to play the role. She'd be fabulous.

"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

[MargoChanning]

re: Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#2

Posted: 11/21/07 at 2:10pm

And if they manage to sign James Earl Jones for Big Daddy, not even Allen could completely ruin this production.

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

[Michael Bennett]

re: Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#3

Posted: 11/21/07 at 2:22pm

I was hoping for the casting of Tempest Bledsoe or Tyra Banks as Maggie. I wanted this to be a "true" Debbie Allen special piece. But this casting looks good. Damn.

Of the two, I'd prefer Kerry Washington. Tennessee Williams was very specific and said Maggie should be played by an actress who had once been fat and lost a lot of weight. I like Anika Rose but she is so delicate and wispy. She'd be better in an all black STREETCAR as Blanche.

[broadway86]

re: Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#4

Posted: 11/21/07 at 4:45pm

Howard, Washington, Raschad, AND James Earl Jones?? Ooooohhh... Updated On: 11/21/07 at 04:45 PM

[Yankeefan007]

re: Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#5

Posted: 11/21/07 at 5:43pm

That is an incredible cast.

Let's hope Allen pulls it off.

[Sandy in Sable]

re: Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#6

Posted: 11/21/07 at 5:48pm

The EPA notice for this went back up just a few days ago. Although it doesn't say that ANY of the roles are cast, it does specify that the producers are looking for a "name" for practically every role besides the servants.

What I said way back in March when Leon was replaced by Allen:

I wish Josephine Premice were still with us, she'd be a fun Big Mama. Though she's played older before, I think Phylicia Rashad could hold out another decade or so before playing Big Mama. She could play May, but then again, maybe she's too old for that role? For now, how about Novella Nelson, Clarice Taylor, or Ellen Holly as Big Mama? I think the latter two are retired actually. If Debbie tried, she just might be able to get Diahann Carroll, though she bowed out of Golden Pond a few seasons ago to be replaced by Leslie Uggams. Leslie Uggams? Well then why not Phylicia Rashad?

Roscoe Lee Browne or Earle Hyman as Big Daddy? Anthony Chisolm would be the most intimidating Big Daddy ever...

*****

Of course Mr. Browne is no longer with us.

[GladysBumps]

re: Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#7

Posted: 11/21/07 at 7:49pm

Terrance Howard is one of the best actors on the planet, and I would love to think it possible, but I don't think this production can possibly override Debbie Allen's in your face, steam roller vulgarity. The very idea of her going near this gorgeous, delicate play was a sick joke. Now it's getting not to be so funny. Well, funny maybe, but in a "Beauty Shop II" kind'a way.

[jaystarr]

re: Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#8

Posted: 11/21/07 at 7:56pm

I'll see it !

J*

[Brick]

re: Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#9

Posted: 11/21/07 at 9:31pm

"Now let's see whether director Debbie Allen makes Brick gay, or fudges it like in the movie!"

My thoughts exactly.

I'm thrilled the casting seems to be going in the right direction (and away from the previously-rumoured Beyonce, LL Cool J, and Louis Gosset, Jr.), but I'm very nervous about Allen's handling of the homosexuality. It is the drive of the whole piece, yet is too often ignored.

[jbdc]

re: Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#10

Posted: 11/21/07 at 11:11pm

Terrence Howard is perfect. Just like Brick, he pretends to be straight. Anika will be amazing. Let's hope she gets it.

[RentBoy86]

re: Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#11

Posted: 11/21/07 at 11:16pm

Question to all of you, do you think color blind casting would work in something like this? I kind of hate when they have "all-black" revivals or "all-white" shows. I mean, I understand the reasoning, but do you think color-blind casting would work in this situation.

[artsamore]

re: Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#12

Posted: 11/22/07 at 12:31am

Thank you RentBoy! I totally agree with you. I would definitely prefer a color blind casted show to an "all one race" show....yes granted it would have to be in a play where race is not essential. You could never cast a black Atticus Finch or a white Walter Lee Younger but like what was done with the Guys and Dolls revival a few years ago or Carousel back in 94 and I must admit, speaking of Tennessee Williams, I have always wanted to see how steamy a white Stanley and a black Stella would be in "Streetcar". Can you imagine the levels that casting could bring to those roles.

One race casts when race is not an issue have always bothered me because it reminds us of the divide between the races and I have always felt that theater should be the first medium to break that wall.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

re: Terrence Howard to Star in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF revival#13

Posted: 12/11/07 at 6:41am

Ninscherl wants to know if there is any news.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)