Mr. Smith Goes To Broadway? Streetcar Getting Jiggy
BROADWAY MAGAZINE – Will Stella start getting’ jiggy with it? One of the Broadway producers of Fela! (and an international star in his own right) Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith are in talks to bring Tennessee Williams’ masterwork A Streetcar Named Desire to Broadway.
The report comes from the New York Post-er Michael Riedel. In the article, Mr. Riedel takes pains to say it is far from a done deal. Check it out here.
Set in New Orleans, Williams’ drama is one of the greatest American plays ever written. Though in the past actors have shied away from the play because of the long shadow of the Brando film, the fact is a Streetcar revival should always be welcome news on Broadway.
The most recent Broadway revival of Streetcar was in 2005 and featured John C. Reilly and Natasha Richardson. In 1992, Alec Baldwin played Stanley to Jessica Lange’s Blanche.
Another fun highlight of the Riedel column is the story about Aretha Franklin turning down a short stint in the Broadway musical Fela! because her character would have to go up a ladder every night.
“I’m not climbing that ladder every night,” Ms. Franklin is quoted as saying. R-E-S-P-E-C-T, indeed.
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July 19th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
The original streetcar named desire, is one of my favorites of all time. I studied it in college and loved the actors. I feel Will and his wife will make a great act on broadway with it. I will definetly love to watch.