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Ashley Judd, Jason Patric, Ned Beatty Steam Under Broadway's New Hot Tin Roof
By Ernio Hernandez
and Robert Simonson
28 Jul 2003
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Broadway's New Cat Ashley Judd — in Picnic.
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| photo by Carol Rosegg | Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will return to Broadway with Ashley Judd as Maggie, Jason Patric as Brick and Ned Beatty as Big Daddy, the production officially announced, July 28.
The long-Broadway-bound staging of the Tennessee Williams' classic set to start performances at the Music Box Theatre Oct. 9. The production will be directed by Anthony Page and officially open Nov. 2. Bill Kenwright produces the limited engagement — no close has been set.
Daughter of famed singer Naomi Judd, Ashley Judd was recently seen as Tina Modotti in the Miramax film "Frida." Her other motion picture credits include "Ruby in Paradise," "Natural Born Killers," "A Time to Kill," "Kiss the Girls," "Double Jeopardy," "Someone Like You," "High Crimes" and "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." Judd made her New York stage debut in the 1994 Roundabout Theatre production of Picnic.
Patric has starred in such films as "The Lost Boys," "After Dark, My Sweet," "Rush" and "Your Friends and Neighbors." The actor will make his Broadway debut in the Williams masterpiece.
Beatty — who reprises his Olivier Award-nominated West End role — is also primarily a film actor with such credits as "Deliverance," "Network," "Superman," "The Big Easy" and "Nashville" behind him.
Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955. The Southern drama set in a Mississippi plantation house follows the rivalries and misunderstandings that break up a family at the 65th birthday of its patriarch Big Daddy.
Director Page received a Tony Award for his direction of the Broadway revivial of Ibsen's A Doll's House Other credits include the world premiere production of Edward Albee's Occupant, the current West End production of The Master Builder starring Patrick Stewart and the Bill Kenwright 2001 production of Cat on A Hot Tin Roof with Brendan Fraser, Frances O'Connor, Ned Beatty, Gemma Jones, Abigail McKern and Clive Carter.
The role of Maggie was originated onstage by Barbara Bel Geddes in the 1955 production. Elizabeth Ashley played the part in the 1974 Broadway revival and Kathleen Turner was Broadway's most recent Maggie the Cat in 1990. Burl Ives famously created the part of Big Daddy, with the folk singer forging a new career as a dramatic actor in the process. Fred Gwynne was the bellowing patriarch in 1974 and Charles During won a Tony for the part in 1990. As for Brick, slightly less famous players have filled the troubled, former football player's shoes. Ben Gazzara was the first to drown his sorrows. Keir Dullea was Ashley's husband and Turner tempted Daniel Hugh Kelly.
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