The audience favorite, which was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film starring Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman, follows an elderly Southern woman and her relationship with her African-American chauffer through several decades. The work originated Off-Broadway in 1987 starring Dana Ivey and Morgan Freeman – running for 1,195 performances.
Learned, the Emmy-winning actress best known for her television work in "The Waltons," most recently toured in On Golden Pond opposite Tom Bosley. She has performed on Broadway in Gore Vidal's The Best Man, The Sisters Rosenzweig, The Loves of Anatol and The Three Sisters. Her additional stage credits include The Time of the Cuckoo, The Ride Down Mt. Morgan, Three Tall Women and Picnic.
The role of Miss Daisy's chauffer, Hoke, remains to be cast. An announcement will be made shortly, production sources confirm. Brian Kite will direct.
The Driving Miss Daisy creative team includes Judy Jou (costume design), John Iacovelli (scenic design), Craig Pierce (lighting design), Craig Wolynez (sound design), Terry Hanrahan (properties design) and Randy Brantley (hair design).
The Pulitzer Prize winning Driving Miss Daisy is the first play in Alfred Uhry's Atlanta Trilogy. It was followed by the 1997 Tony-Award winning The Last Night of Ballyhoo and concluded with the musical Parade, for which Uhry earned a Tony for Best Book of a Musical in 1999. His most recent Broadway work was a collaboration with Hal Prince –Lovemusik – which explored the unconventional relationship of Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya utilizing the late composer's music. Driving Miss Daisy will run through Feb. 17 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, CA. Tickets can be purchased by calling (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310. For more information visit lamiradatheatre.com.
