From the Seacoast Echo
September 2011
The Bay St. Louis Little Theatre will open its second season at the new Little Theatre with Pulitzer Prize winner “Driving Miss Daisy.” The show opens on Friday, September 16th. The play was written by Alfred Uhry and premiered in New York City in 1987. The New York Daily News wrote “Driving Miss Daisy is a total delight.” Uhry adapted it into the screenplay for the movie. The movie won the Academy Award for “Best Picture” and for “Best Actress.”
This play is a revival of the show that was previously performed in the months after Katrina at the Gulfport Little Theatre. The play was to open on September 9, 2005. Then Katrina changed the plan. “Miss Daisy” opened on November 11, 2005 to the largest opening night audience that the Gulfport Little Theatre had ever experienced. When the BSLLT Guild considered putting this production at the BSLLT, the Gulfport Little Theatre graciously gave their support. The play will have the original director, Arthur Bailey, Jr. and two of the original cast, David Bell and Cheryl Grace. Rick Amos will join the cast. “We are grateful to be able to create this show again. It is a dream come true. It symbolized a comeback after Katrina, “ stated Cheryl Grace. Martha Mabey, a former reviewer for the Sun-Herald, wrote a goodbye tribute to theater on the Coast when she she was relocating several years ago. In her article she wrote “ A…production that was especially outstanding was Gulfport Little Theatre’s ‘Driving Miss Daisy.’ The two lead actors were as good as the movie stars in the film by the same name. Their professionalism, tried severely by Katrina, never wavered.” Pictures of the production in rehearsal can be viewed online at www.bsllt.org.
“Driving Miss Daisy” takes place mostly in Atlanta, Georgia. The story tells of the evolving relationships of Miss Daisy, a wealthy widow, her businessman son, Boolie, and Hoke, a widower hired by her son Boolie to be Miss Daisy’s chauffeur. The play spans twenty-five years of the three characters lives and portrays a moving story of the unlikely friendship that grows between Miss Daisy and Hoke. “…a winner in this one….gives off a warm glow of humane affirmation” – Variety.
The Bay St. Louis Little Theatre is located at 398 Blaize Avenue in the Depot District. Show dates are September 16, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, October 1 and 2. Show times are 8pm and Sunday matinees are 2pm. Theater seating starts 30 minutes before show time. There will be no seating after the show begins. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 65+, veterans, and active military. Children 12 and under are $6. Reservations are recommended for all theater attendees including season ticket holders. Tickets are on sale online at www.bsllt.org or can be purchased at Twin Light Creations at 136 Main Street or Maggie May’s at 126 Main Street. For more information call 228-864-2882 or go to www.bsllt.org.