It’s not very often, if ever, that a piece of work can win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, win an Academy Award for Best Picture and win the hearts of millions of theatergoers. Driving Miss Daisy, playing March 12 through 28 in Curtain Call’s Dressing Room Theatre, is one of those rare works.
“I’ve been in love with this play for years.” says Curtain Call executive director Lou Ursone. “I loved the film when it first came out, and then saw a stage version of it while I was on the road in another show and couldn’t believe how wonderfully compelling the work was on stage,” he said. “Driving Miss Daisy is not only very funny and entertaining, it has a wonderful underlying message of acceptance and hope,” he added. Author Alfred Uhry treats us to another era in this wonderful play,” Ursone said
The place is the Deep South, the time 1948, just prior to the civil rights movement. Having recently demolished another car, Daisy Wertham, must rely on the services of a chauffeur, an unemployed black man, Hoke, whom Miss Daisy immediately regards with disdain and who, in turn, is not impressed with his employer's patronizing tone and, he believes, her latent prejudice. But, in a series of absorbing scenes spanning twenty-five years, the two, despite their mutual differences, grow ever closer to, and more dependent on, each other, until, eventually, they become almost a couple. They both come to realize they have more in common than they ever believed possible—and that times and circumstances would ever allow them to publicly admit.
The title role is played by veteran actress Nancy Thode (GREENWICH). She has appeared in many Curtain Call productions (and others too) over the years and most recently, has been touring in her somewhat autobiographical one women show. Thode said, “Growing up in the south of the forties and fifties, ‘let me tell you,’ as Miss Daisy would say, I can attest that Urly's words rings crystal clear. With humor and exquisite sensitivity, he drives home the realities of prejudice, subtle and blatant, as it existed during that time.”
David Tate (MILFORD)plays Hoke. Tate also has performed in numerous roles throughout Fairfield County but this is his first Curtain Call appearance. By day he can be found as Assistant Principal at Cloonan Middle School.
Boolie, Daisy’s son, is played by another Curtain Call veteran, Brian Bianco (STAMFORD). He has appeared in and directed numerous productions for Curtain Call and is the full-time education director there.
The production team features director Lester Colodny (WESTPORT). Production design will be by Peter Barbieri, Jr. (OSSINING, NY) with costumes by Christine Mallardi (NORWALK). The stage management team is lead by Frank Gaffney (NORWALK). Colodny said “I have high hopes for a wonderful evening in the theater with Driving Miss Daisy...with a marvelous cast, an ingenious set and a magnificent play we can’t go wrong.”
Seating in The Dressing Room Theatre is cabaret-style with a Bring Your Own Everything picnic format. Ticket prices for all performances are $26 for adults, $18 for senior citizens and $13 for students and children. Discounted Flex Passes are available as well and provide savings of up to 25% off regular ticket prices. Tickets are available through the Box Office at 203-461-6358 x13 or online at www.curtaincallinc.com. Discounted dinner and theatre packages are also available in conjunction with The Royal Green Restaurant which is on the same property. Meals may also be delivered to The Dressing Room Theatre by The Player’s Club right next door.
Curtain Call is the non-profit community-based theatre company in residence at The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Avenue in Stamford. Year-round productions and workshops are presented by and for area residents in The Kweskin Theatre and The Dressing Room Theatre. It has been voted Fairfield County’s BEST LOCAL THEATRE GROUP 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 in the Annual Readers’ Poll of The Fairfield County Weekly and BEST PERFORMING ARTS GROUP by StamfordPlus magazine for 2008, 2009 and 2010.
