Category Archives: Press Releases

Playing in The Otto M. Budig Theatre Weekends, November 1 – 16, 2014

COVINGTON, KY- The Carnegie proudly continues its 2014-15 Theatre Series with one of America’s most treasured stories of compassion and acceptance, Pulitzer Prize winning play, DRIVING MISS DAISY, playing weekends November 1-16, 2014.

Starring two of Greater Cincinnati’s most treasured actors, Dale Hodges and Reggie Willis, DRIVING MISS DAISY is directed by Mark Lutwak. Tickets are $18 – $25 and are available online at www.thecarnegie.com or by calling The Carnegie Box Office at (859) 957-1940 (open Tu – Fr, noon – 5pm).

DRIVING MISS DAISY is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

Show Synopsis
Ornery, strong-willed widow Daisy Wertham has just demolished another car, leaving her son no recourse but to hire her a driver. His chosen chauffeur, Hoke, a thoughtful, unemployed black man who couldn’t seem to have less in common with his wealthy, Jewish client. The odd couple endure humorous and heartwarming struggles in their forced relationship, giving way over twenty-five years to a closeness and understanding that transcends the Civil Rights era in the Deep South. DRIVING MISS DAISY on Stage and Screen.

Debuting off-Broadway in 1987, Alfred Uhry’s Pulitzer Prize winning play DRIVING MISS DAISY enjoyed its premiere in New York City. The production ran for three years and 1,195 performances, and starred Dana Ivey and Morgan Freeman. During this time Uhry would also adapt DRIVING MISS DAISY into a screenplay, which would star Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman and Dan Aykroyd. The film would receive nine Academy Award nominations, winning Best Picture, Best Actress (Jessica Tandy), Best Makeup, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Revived in 2010 at New York’s John Golden Theatre, DRIVING MISS DAISY premiered on Broadway to rave reviews, playing 200 performances (20 of which were previews) and featuring an all-star cast including screen actors James Earl Jones (The Lion King, Roots, Star Wars) and Vanessa Redgrave (Howard’s End, Julia).

A complete cast list follows this release.

Who’s mapping the route for DRIVING MISS DAISY
Director Mark Lutwak* serves as director of education for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Lutwak has been directing professionally since 1976 with a focus on new plays for adults, families and children. He also has produced and directed award-winning educational media and a wide variety of projects for nonprofit arts, community and educational organizations.

**Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

Leading the way
Dale Hodges*, one of Greater Cincinnati’s most treasured actresses, has performed in more than 100 professional theatre productions across the country. Dale’s background includes Broadway performances in EQUUS and BENEFACTORS and off-Broadway with LIFE CLASS, TOP GIRLS, SKIRMISHES and A WOMAN IN MIND. Since moving to Cincinnati in 1988, Dale has performed on stage at many local theatres including Ensemble Theatre (GREY GARDENS, OTHER DESERT CITIES), Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM) and Playhouse in the Park (KING LEAR, THE PIANO TEACHER) where she appeared in 21 out of 23 seasons of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Most recently Dale worked with master teacher David Hyde Pierce as part of the 2014 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program, an honor for which she was nominated by the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

Reggie Willis has performed in numerous productions in the Cincinnati area since 1979 including Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theatre, Know Theatre, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Walton Creek, Arts Consortium, Xavier University, and The Carnegie. His most recent performances were with the Clifton Players in DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES, SUPERIOR DONUTS, A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE, THE WHALE and THE RIVERSIDE. Reggie also recently performed in HOT DAMN IT’S THE LOVELAND FROG during the 2014 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

Randy Lee Bailey is an actor, carpenter, writer, singer, husband, uncle, living in northern Kentucky. He has been seen onstage at Know Theatre, New Stage Collective, the Fringe Festival, Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, Ensemble Theater of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park, Repertory Theater of St. Louis, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, and The Carnegie, among others. At The Carnegie, Randy most recently played Amos in CHICAGO.

*Actor appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. 

Ticketing
Tickets to The Carnegie’s production of DRIVING MISS DAISY are $18 – $25 and may be purchased online at www.thecarnegie.com or by calling The Carnegie Box Office at (859) 957-1940 (open Tu – Fr, noon – 5pm).

DRIVING MISS DAISY will include eight performances over three weekends:

Saturday, Nov. 1, 7:30pm ● Sunday, Nov. 2, 3pm
Friday, Nov. 7, 7:30pm ● Saturday, Nov. 8, 7:30pm ● Sunday, Nov. 9, 3pm
Friday, Nov. 14, 7:30pm ● Saturday, Nov. 15, 7:30pm ● Sunday, Nov. 16, 3pm

Single Ticket Pricing
$25 Adults
$23 Carnegie and Enjoy The Arts Members
$20 Groups of 8 or More
$18 Students

DRIVING MISS DAISY Cast and Production Team List

Cast
ROLE                         ACTOR

Daisy Wertham       Dale Hodges*
Hoke                          Reggie Willis
Boolie                        Randy Lee Bailey

*Actor appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Production Team

• Director –  Mark Lutwak**
• Asst to the Director  – John Muething
• Scenic Designer – Kristen Robinson
• Lighting Designer – Andrew Diamond
• Lighting Advisor – Mark Williams
• Costume/Makeup Designer – Daryl Harris
• Asst. Costume Designer – Chloe Hixson
• Sound Designer – Jason Sebastian
• Stage Manager – Grace Rockstoh
• Asst Stage Mgr / Props – Chandler Baer
• Asst Stage Mgr / Wardrobe – David Netherton
• Sound Engineer – Steve Eviston
• Production Mgr – Bleu Pellman
• Technical Director – Richard Sillen
• Producer – Katie Brass and Bleu Pellman

**Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

About The Carnegie
THE CARNEGIE is a multidisciplinary arts venue serving the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. Over the course of the past ten years The Carnegie has “morphed” from a grassroots gallery with an education component into an all-inclusive arts organization offering professional theatre, art exhibitions showcasing the best of local and regional artists, and a comprehensive arts education program.

The Carnegie is home to The Carnegie Galleries, comprised of more than 6,000 square feet of gallery space where emerging and established artists exhibit in multiple shows throughout the year; the Eva G. Farris Education Center, which provides arts education to thousands of children, many of whom are at or below the poverty level; and the newly renovated 447-seat Otto M. Budig Theatre, which offers an affordable theatre space for local, up-and-coming and established production companies and is home to The Carnegie’s Theatre Series and Carnegie in Concert series. The Carnegie is the largest arts venue in Northern Kentucky.

The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from ArtsWave, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, the Kentucky Arts Council, the Cincinnati Wine Festival, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the Carol