Richard Blackwood, Derek Griffiths and Nina Sosanya will join the previously announced Sanaa Lathan, Adrian Lester, Phylicia Rashad and James Earl Jones in Debbie Allen's sell-out Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. Produced by Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones for Front Row Productions, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof will run at the Novello Theatre from 21 November to 10 April 2010, with press night on 1 December. Set designs are by Morgan Large with costume designs by Fay Fullerton, lighting by David Holmes, sound by Richard Brooker and original music by Andrew "Tex" Allen.
The cast is Richard Blackwood (Brightie), Guy Burgess (Lacey), Claudia Cadette (Nanny), Peter De Jersey (Gooper), Derek Griffiths (Reverend Tooker), James Earl Jones (Big Daddy), Sanaa Lathan (Maggie), Susan Lawson-Reynolds (Sookey), Adrian Lester (Brick), Joseph Mydell (Doctor Baugh), Phylicia Rashad (Big Mama) and Nina Sosanya (Mae). They are joined by Yvonne Gidden who will understudy Big Mama.
A powerful Southern family gathers at a birthday celebration for patriarch Big Daddy who is unaware he is dying. In a scramble to secure their part of his estate, family members hide the truth about his diagnosis from him and Big Mama. Tensions mount between alcoholic former football hero Brick and his beautiful but sexually frustrated wife Maggie ‘The cat'. As their troubled relationship comes to a stormy and steamy climax, a shockwave of secrets is finally revealed.
Tennessee Williams' Cat On A Hot Tin Roof was last seen in the West End in 2001 directed by Anthony Page with a cast including Frances O'Connor, Brendan Fraser, Ned Beatty and Gemma Jones. In 1988 Howard Davies directed a National Theatre production with a cast including Ian Charleson, Lindsay Duncan, Barbara Leigh-Hunt and Eric Porter.
Richard Blackwood's stage credits include Roy Williams' Angel House and The Unexpected Guest, which both toured nationally and The Brothers at the Hackney Empire. As well as his own show for Channel 4, Blackwood's television credits include Britannia High, Dani's House, Shoot The Messenger, Little Miss Jocelyn and Holby. He is a regular at the Comedy Store in the West End and presents his own radio programme on Choice FM.
James Earl Jones won Best Actor Tony Award for his performances in August Wilson's Fences and The Great White Hope and 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. Multi award-winning James Earl Jones made his film debut in 1964 in Stanley Kubrick's Dr Stangelove. As well as being the voice of Darth Vader, he has since been seen on screen in Field of Dreams, The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games. James Earl Jones made his London stage debut in 1978 in the Broadway transfer of Paul Robeson.
