Tribune staff reports
Jackson County Community Theatre will present the final show of the 2015-16 season, “Driving Miss Daisy,” at 7:30 p.m. April 29 and 30 and May 6 and 7 at Royal-Off-the-Square Theatre, 121 W. Walnut St., Brownstown.
The heartwarming comedy/drama by Alfred Uhrey focuses on an unexpected friendship and completes the group’s season theme of “JCCT Goes Hollywood.”
Each of this season’s shows has been a classic on the silver screen.
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“Driving Miss Daisy” appeared off-Broadway from 1987 to 1990, winning the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for drama and several other awards.
The play made its Broadway debut in 1988, starring Vanessa Redgrave as Daisy and James Earl Jones as Hoke. Angela Lansbury and Jones starred in a touring production, which also was broadcast on PBS Great Performances.
The play was adapted into a screenplay for a 1989 film starring Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman and Dan Aykroyd, an adaption which was awarded the Academy Award for best picture, best actress, best makeup and best writing adapted screenplay.
In the Jackson County Community Theatre production, Marilyn Kendall (last seen as Mrs. Savage in “The Curious Savage”) will play the part of the feisty Miss Daisy. Anthony Alexander is making his stage debut as Hoke. John Hiester, recent director of “Boeing Boeing,” will be Daisy’s long-suffering son, Boolie.
The play, set in Atlanta, spans a period of 25 years beginning in 1947, through the civil rights movement and into the early 1970s.
As the story begins, 72-year old Daisy Werthan has demolished yet another car, and her son insists that he hire a driver for her.
Boolie hires a thoughtful, unemployed black man, Hoke, whom Miss Daisy immediately regards with disdain. Hoke, in turn, is not impressed with Miss Daisy’s patronizing tone and latent prejudice, which she insists she does not hold.
But in a series of absorbing scenes, both age, grow closer to and depend on each other. By the final scene, when Miss Daisy is 97, though it is evident that a vestige of her fierce independence and sense of position still remain, it also is movingly clear that both have 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 play is directed by Joel McGill. Sarah McGill is producer and director’s assistant.
Members of the set construction crew are Joel McGill, Joe Bradley and Joe Reynolds. Reynolds also is doing artistic work on the set. Julie Bradley is costumer.
Technical assistance is provided by Bill Klaes, Joe Bradley, Aaron Wright and Stevi Begley. Stage crew members are Joyce DiBlasi, Amy Kolleck, Erin Nelson and Kathy Nelson.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors and are on sale at Family Drug in Brownstown and JCCT’s new Seymour ticket location, Artistic Impressions Framing, 127 W. Second St. at Second and Chestnut streets. Out-of-county patrons may call 812-358-5228 to reserve tickets.
The season is supported by a grant from the Arts Partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Indiana Arts Commission and Columbus Area Arts Council.
Information: jcct.org and on Facebook
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What: Jackson County Community Theatre’s production of “Driving Miss Daisy”
When: 7:30 p.m. April 29 and 30 and May 6 and 7
Where: Royal-Off-the-Square Theatre, 121 W. Walnut St., Brownstown
Tickets: Family Drug in Brownstown and Artistic Impressions Framing in Seymour
Cost: $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors
Information: 812-358-5228, jcct.org and on Facebook
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