Our current Production - Driving Miss Daisy
Set in mid-century Atlanta, Driving Miss Daisy tells the story of an elderly Jewish matron, Daisy Werthan, and her chauffeur, Hoke Coleburn. At first, Daisy is none to happy about being forced by her son, Boolie, to rely on a black man to get from one place to the next. Gradually, however, Hoke wins her over, and during the 25-year span of the play, the two develop a deeply-rooted affection. This Pulitzer Prize winning classic is a delicate depiction of simmering racial tensions, the inevitable passage of time, and the universal experience of aging. Playwright Alfred Uhry creates two outsiders who come to a mutual respect, each one grounded in their staunch independence, unbending strength, and stubborn integrity.
In 1988, Driving Miss Daisy was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Best Off-Broadway Play.
The play was then produced as a Hollywood movie starring Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman and Dan Akroyd. In 1990, the movie version of Driving Miss Daisy won 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Screenplay and Best Makeup.
Don’t miss this LIVE performance of a timeless masterpiece!
Our Cast
Mary Kay Fortier Spalding, Daisy Werthan - Since her youth Mary Kay has continued to pursue her life-long passion for the theatre. She has performed at many Minnesota and Wisconsin-based theatre companies including: Theatre-in-the-Round, Artistry, Gremlin Theatre, Lyric Arts, Phipps Center for the Arts, and Festival Theatre. Her more memorable roles include: Miss Mackay in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Mrs. Higgins in My Fair Lady, Abby Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace, Mrs. Boyle in The Mouse Trap and Betty Meeks in The Foreigner. In addition, Mary Kay has appeared in two feature films: Cold November, shot in and around Hibbing, MN and Memorial Day, with James Cromwell, shown annually on Memorial Day on the CW cable network.
Eric Wood, Hoke Coleburn - Eric’s involvement in theater spans some 35 years. He has appeared with numerous theatre companies throughout the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin, including: Phipps Center for the Arts, Jon Hassler Theater, Machine Dreams, Inc., War Plays Project, ZAM Theater, Minnesota Shakes Company, Bridge Theater, and Starting Gate Productions. Some of his favorite roles are: Crooks in Of Mice and Men, Thomas Thurman in Good Boys, Ensemble in Pangea’s production of Sexuality and Aging, and, especially, Hoke in Driving Miss Daisy. In addition to performing, Eric also writes and is currently working on 2 original plays.
Dann Peterson, Boolie Werthan - Dann has been active as both actor and director for various theatre companies for over 40 years, including, Theatre-in-the-Round (TRP), Bloomington Civic Theatre (BCT), 20% Theatre Company, Freshwater Theatre, Paul Bunyan Playhouse, Cross Community Players, Off Broadway Musical Theatre, Park Square Theatre, St. Croix Valley Summer Theatre, Heritage Theatre, Fifty-Foot Penguin, The Chimera and Edyth Bush Theatres. Some of his favorite roles include C.S. Lewis in Shadowlands, St. John Quartermaine in Quartermaine’s Terms, Uncle Vanya in Uncle Vanya, Mr. Maraczek in She Loves Me, F.D.R. in Annie, Norman in The Dresser, Henry Higgins in both My Fair Lady and Pygmalion, Dr. Treves in The Elephant Man, Brian in Shadow Box, Michael in Boys in the Band, Frank in Educating Rita, and Major General Stanley in Pirates of Penzance. Dann is also one of the busiest theater directors in the Twin Cities.
Performances
DRIVING MISS DAISY RECEIVES STANDING OVATIONS AT EVERY MINNESOTA PERFORMANCE!!!
A huge Thank You to our wildly appreciative Minnesota audiences in Ely, Bloomington, Albert Lea and Alexandria. We love you too!