Following Black Cat, Halle Berry Boards Streetcar???

It seems that the current production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, which transfers to the Novello Theatre this week (2 December 2010, previews from 22 November), could be the first of several classics to be staged with an all-black cast.

Speaking to Whatsonstage.com recently, the show’s producer Stephen Byrd revealed that, prior to Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, he had previously been in negotiations with Oscar-winner Halle Berry to star as Blanche Dubois in an all-black production of Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire.

Although that project didn’t get off the ground, following the success of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof he is keen to revisit the idea, and look at other classics which could work with all-black casts.

If it does go ahead, a production of Streetcar would most likely open on Broadway prior to a possible West End transfer. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof debuted at New York’s Broadhurst Theater last year, with both James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad reprising their roles as Big Daddy and Big Mama in the West End (See News, 3 Jun 2009).

A Streetcar Named Desire was recently seen at the Donmar Warehouse starring another Hollywood name as Dubois, Rachel Weisz, who recently won an Evening Standard Award for the role (See News, 23 Nov 2009).