CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF Opens In West End At Novello Theatre 12/1

The award-winning smash hit Broadway production of Tennessee Williams's "CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF", which enjoyed a sell out run on Broadway last year with an all black cast, will open in London's West End this winter. "CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF" will open at the Novello Theatre on Tuesday 1 December, following previews from 21 November. The limited season will finish on Saturday 10 April 2010.

As on Broadway, the cast will be headed by Tony Award winners James Earl Jones as ‘Big Daddy' and Phylicia Rashad as ‘Big Mama'. Joining them will be Olivier Award winner Adrian Lester and Tony Award nominee Sanaa Lathan, starring as ‘Brick' and ‘Maggie' respectively.

James Earl Jones won Tony Awards as ‘Best Actor' for his performances in August Wilson's "Fences" and "The Great White Hope"; he was also nominated for a Tony for his role in the revival of "On Golden Pond". His other Broadway credits include "Master Harold and the Boys", "Of Mice and Men" and "The Iceman Cometh". Phylicia Rashad starred in the Broadway production of "August: Osage County" and won a Tony Award as ‘Best Actress' for her role in "A Raisin in the Sun". A two-time Emmy Award nominee, she is most famous for her role as ‘Clair Huxtable' in "The Cosby Show". Adrian Lester is best known for playing con-artist ‘Mickey Bricks' in "Hustle". His stage work includes an Olivier Award-winning performance in "Company", "Hamlet", "Henry V" and "As You Like It". His films include "Primary Colors" and "Love's Labour's Lost". Sanaa Lathan played ‘Michelle Landau' in the television series "Nip/Tuck" and her many film roles include starring opposite Denzel Washington in "Out of Time". She also starred in the Broadway production of "A Raisin in the Sun" for which she received a Tony Award nomination for ‘Best Performance by a Featured Actress'.

Further casting will be announced shortly.

"CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF", as on Broadway, will be directed by Debbie Allen, renowned Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning director, actor and choreographer, best known for playing Lydia Grant in the original film and television series of "Fame". Two-time Tony Award nominee, Allen made her Broadway debut in the 1970 production of "Purlie". The acclaimed actor of stage and screen moved behind the camera to direct and produce in the 1980s. While still a cast member of "Fame", she became the first African American woman hired by a television network as a director in prime time. Allen has directed television and film including "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" featuring Will Smith, "A Different World", "Girlfriends", "The Jamie Foxx Show", and "Family Ties". For over a decade, Allen has written, choreographed and directed commissioned theatre productions annually for The Kennedy Center. In her Broadway directorial debut, Allen led the 2008 revival of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF.
"CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF" will be produced in London by its Broadway producers Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones. Performances at the Novello Theatre will be Monday - Saturday at 7.30pm, with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm. Tickets, priced from £10.00 - £49.50, are available from the Novello Theatre Box Office on 0844 482 5170 or by visiting www.catwestend.com or www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk.

The Novello Theatre Box Office will open on Monday 8 June.