A Dandy Moment: Panel Discussion, A Street Car Named Desire

On Monday March 19, 2012, I had the pleasure of sitting in on a panel discussion for the re-staging of a Broadway revival for the Pulitzer Prize winning, Tennessee Williams classic, A Street Car Named Desire. The Discussion took place at the Greene Space in lower Manhattan and included the full cast as well as two of the shows producers and its director. The remarkable actors that will be bring new life to these iconic roles are Blair Underwood(Standly), Nicole Ari Parker(Blanche Dubois), Daphne Rubin Vega(Stella ) and Wood Harris(Mitch). At the helm of this production is the Artistic Director of Princeton's McCarter Theater Emily Mann, who is not only directing this production, but is in her 22nd season at the prestigious theater. The musical Genus of  Grammy award winning composer and musician Terrance Blanchard, will compose the music along side critically acclaimed choreographer Camille A. Brown. Tony Award nominated costumer Paul Tazwell, will be lending his many years of experience by creating the costumes. Audiences are also in for a special treat to see dance icon Carmen De Lavallade return to the Broadway stage once again acting as part of this respectably accomplished ensemble.

I first learned of this production and its use of the non-traditional casting a year ago when one of "Street Car's" producers Stephen C. Byrd was assembling the cast. Co-Producers Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones of Front Row Productions were looking to capitalize on the monumental success of another Tennessee Williams revival, the 2008 Broadway sensation Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. The all star African American production; starring James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose,Terrance Howard, later followed by Boris Kodjoe, became Broadways highest grossing production that year.  After a long standing fight to secure the rights of his to some of  Mr. Williams plays, whose estate was being controlled by the playwrights best friend. Mr. Byrd proved to be victorious and the company is bring it to Broadway for only 16 weeks this spring.The duo is hoping for the same success with A Street Car Named Desire which will open in previews April 3, 2012 at the Broadhurst Theatre.

StreetcarOnBroadway.com

Upcoming post on A Street Car Named Desire:

-An in depth analysis of the plays actors, the play and its journey to Broadway
-Show review
-An up close interview with the plays choreographer Camille A. Brown

Actor Blair Underwood(who is making his Broadway debut )

Actress Nicole Ari Parker

Director Emily Mann

Actor Wood Harris

Cast Members Parker and Harris

Actors Daphne Rubin Vega and Blair Underwwod

Blair Underwood with myself (Sureme) and friends Sharifa and Tiffany

Sharifa and I

Tiffany and I

Sureme Laster Bey

Actor Wood Harris

Actor Wood Harris with myself and Tiffany

                                 Clip from the panel discussion provided by The Greene Space



Full video can be seen at:
http://www.thegreenespace.org/articles/thegreenespace/2012/mar/20/streetcar-named-desire/