Billion Dollar Baby Play — with Oscar Winner Patty Duke — Begins Performances Feb. 8

By Andrew Gans
08 Feb 2007

Patty Duke
Patty Duke

Patty Duke, most recently on Broadway in the revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, stars in the new play Billion Dollar Baby, which begins performances at the University of Idaho's Hartung Theatre Feb. 8.

The production is part of the University of Idaho Department of Theatre & Film and the Idaho Repertory Theatre's "New Works Festival," which will be presented through Feb. 18. Penned by Julie Jensen, Billion Dollar Baby is a one-woman show about "a grandmother who has definite opinions about her daughter's . . . child-rearing."

Idaho Repertory Theatre artistic director Jere Lee Hodgin helms the production.

Patty Duke — who also goes by her non-stage name Anna Pearce — became famous after starring as Helen Keller in the original Broadway production and then the film adaptation of The Miracle Worker, winning a 1962 Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She went on to star in her own sitcom, "The Patty Duke Show." Duke was most recently seen on Broadway playing Aunt Eller in the revival of Oklahoma!.

"Festival of New Works" will be presented Feb. 8-10 and Feb. 14-17 at 7:30 PM and Feb. 11 at 2 PM. Tickets, priced $10 (adults), $8 (seniors) and $5 (students and youth), are available by calling (208) 885-7212 or by visiting www.uitheatre.com.