VINTAGE PLAYBILL: The Trip to Bountiful, 1953 | Playbill

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News VINTAGE PLAYBILL: The Trip to Bountiful, 1953 The Trip to Bountiful returns to Broadway April 23, 60 years after its debut.

Horton Foote's Trip to Bountiful premiered as a TV movie in March 1953. Later that year, he adapted his screenplay for the stage. 

The play opened Nov. 3, 1953, at Henry Miller's Theatre -- now the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, where the revival is slated to play a limited engagement through July 7.

The production received mixed reviews, but critics praised the performances, particularly Lillian Gish's portrayal of the elderly Carrie Watts.

"Everything being possible, Lillian Gish may some day give a finer performance than her Mrs. Carrie Watts in The Trip to Bountiful," wrote Brooks Atkinson. "But no one has a right ever to expect anything finer. For this is Miss Gish's masterpiece."

The revival stars Cicely Tyson in the role originated by Gish. Cuba Gooding Jr. and Vanessa Williams play the son and daughter-in-law originated, respectively, by Gene Lyons and Jo Van Fleet. Tony nominee Condola Rashad takes on the role of Thelma, originated by Eva Marie Saint in her Broadway debut. Read the 1953 opening night Playbill here.

 
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