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Jesse L. Martin to Reprise Poitier Role on Broadway
posted on Apr 22, 2008
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Jesse L. Martin ("Rent") is heading back to Broadway after wrapping up
his nine-year run on "Law & Order." Martin is in negotiations to
star in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?," a new Broadway-aimed
production based on the 1967 movie. In the play Martin will play John
Wade Prentice, the role made popular in the movie by Academy Award
winner Sidney Poitier.
Directed by Stanley Kramer, and originally billed as "A love story of
today," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" opened on Dec. 12, 1967 to rave
reviews. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards including Best
Picture, winning two: Original Screenplay for Rose and Best Actress for
Hepburn.
The film inspired a race-reversed remake of sorts in the 2005 pic,
"Guess Who," starring Bernie Mac (as the father) and Ashton Kutcher (as
the fiancé).
The play, from Jeffrey Finn Productions, will be directed by Kenny Leon
("A Raisin in the Sun," "Gem of the Ocean," "Radio Golf"). Rehearsals
are expected to begin in August. It's
set to open next September in New York. This will be the first-ever
stage production based on the film.
According to Finn Productions in describing the play: "Following a life-altering romance in
Hawaii, Joey Drayton brings her fiancé, Dr. John Prentice, home to
sunny San Francisco to meet her affluent parents. Their liberal
persuasions are put to the test when they find out their daughter's
fiancé, while an ideal choice — a handsome, wealthy, brilliant,
internationally-renown doctor from a respectable family — is
African-American."
According to Playbill, a private, invitation-only "table read" of the play took place last November in NYC.
The reading cast featured Tony Award winner and two-time Emmy Award winner Blythe Danner as Christina Drayton — the role originated
on film by the late Katharine Hepburn; two-time Tony Award nominee
Larry Bryggman as Matt Drayton
(Spencer Tracy's role); British stage and film star David Oyelowo as Dr. John Prentice (created by Sidney Poitier); Gillian Jacobs as Joanna "Joey" Drayton; two-time Tony Award winner James Naughton as Monsignor Ryan; Tony Award winner Leslie Uggams as Mary Prentice; Bill Nunn as John Prentice, Sr.; Lynda Gravátt as Matilda "Tillie" Binks; and Leslie Hendrix as Hilary St. George. This cast does not necessarily reflect a future cast.
Martin's last appearance on "Law & Order" is April 23. Martin
created the role of Collins in the groundbreaking musical "Rent."
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