Phylicia Rashad, Kerry Washington, Nnamdi Asomugha, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Alan Alda have joined the production team of the upcoming Broadway revival of Ossie Davis’ “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch.”
Previews commence this Thursday, September 7, with the official opening set for Wednesday, September 27, at The Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th St.). The play is directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon and marks Leslie Odom’s return to Broadway after his Tony-winning performance as “Aaron Burr” in Hamilton.
The narrative revolves around Purlie, a traveling preacher, who returns to his Georgia hometown with the intention of rescuing the local church and the cotton pickers on Ol’ Cap’n Cotchiepee’s plantation. The original 1961 Broadway production was both written by and starred Ossie Davis, who performed alongside his wife, Ruby Dee.
The production’s cast includes Leslie Odom, Jr. as “Purlie Victorious Judson,” Vanessa Bell Calloway as “Idella Landy,” Billy Eugene Jones as “Gitlow Judson,” Noah Pyzik as “Deputy,” Noah Robbins as “Charlie Cotchipee,” Jay O. Sanders as “Ol’ Cap’n Cotchipee,” Heather Alicia Simms as “Missy Judson,” Bill Timoney as “Sheriff,” and Kara Young as “Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins.”
Understudies for the production include Melvin Abston, Willa Bost, Brandi Porter, and Donald Webber, Jr.
Alan Alda reflected on his past involvement with “Purlie Victorious” and expressed his excitement for the new cast, stating, “61 years ago, when ‘Purlie Victorious’ last played on Broadway, I was in the cast as Charlie Cotchipee. Every performance was a new lesson in my theater education: getting to play Ossie Davis’s brilliant writing; standing in the wings watching Ossie and Ruby, and learning acting from them; listening to the knowing laughter from church congregations who came to our Saturday matinées. They took the roof off the theater, and I saw how theater could galvanize people.”
Phylicia Rashad also encouraged audiences to enjoy Ossie Davis’ classic comedy.
“Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch” is produced by a team that includes Jeffrey Richards, Hunter Arnold, Leslie Odom Jr., Louise Gund, Bob Boyett, and other prominent figures in the industry. Tickets are available for purchase at Telecharge.com, by phone at 212-239-6200, or in person at The Music Theatre box office.
The creative team behind the production includes scenic design by Tony Award winner Derek McLane, costume design by Tony Award nominee Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Drama Desk Award nominee Adam Honoré, sound design by Peter Fitzgerald, and casting by The Telsey Office.
Davis and Dee’s original production recieved a special visit from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for its 100th performance. This dynamic duo later reprised their roles in a 1963 film adaptation titled “Gone Are the Days!” The story also found its musical adaptation on Broadway in 1970, catapulting Melba Moore to stardom and earning her a Tony for her portrayal of Lutiebelle. Notably, the upcoming revival will mark the first presentation of Davis’ original play on the Main Stem.