Tag Archives: Marlon Brando

Pulitzers Play Little Rock: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE national tour

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SND RobinsonIn December 1947, Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire opened on Broadway. Two years later, in December 1949, the national tour of the play came to Robinson Auditorium.

Judith Evelyn, who had originated the lead in Angel Street starred as Blanche DuBois.  Ralph Meeker, who had succeeded Marlon Brando on Broadway, played Stanley.  Jorja Curtright and Jim Nolan played Stella and Mitch, respectively.  Curtright would play Stella on Broadway in 1950 opposite Anthony Quinn and Uta Hagen.

Others in the cast were Eulabelle Moore, Peggy Rea, Harry Kersey, Victor Rendina, Jams Karen, Sidonie Espero, Angela Jacobs and Arthur Row.

The tour was directed by Elia Kazan with Jo Mielziner’s Broadway set and lighting design.  Lucinda Ballard was the costume designer, as she was on Broadway.

2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Pulitzer Prize for Drama being given. To pay tribute to 100 years of the Pulitzer for Drama, each day this month a different Little Rock production of a Pulitzer Prize winning play will be highlighted.  Many of these titles have been produced numerous times.  This look will veer from high school to national tours in an attempt to give a glimpse into Little Rock’s breadth and depth of theatrical history.

THE GODFATHER on the big screen at CALS Ron Robinson tonight at 7

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the-godfatherTonight the Central Arkansas Library System is making an offer the public cannot refuse – a chance to see Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 opus The Godfather on the big screen.  No, if you miss it you won’t wake up with a horse head in your bed tomorrow – but you will have missed a chance to experience this masterpiece as it is meant to be.

Based on Mario Puzo’s novel, Puzo and Coppola crafted a screenplay which tells of the business and family affairs of the Corleone family.  Deftly directed by Coppola, it stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire and John Cazale.  Creating other memorable characters are Richard S. Castellano, Al Lettieri, Abe Vigoda, John Martino, Alex Rocco, Gianni Russo, Tony Giorgio and Vito Scotti among others.

The film was nominated for ten Oscars and took home Best Picture, Actor (Brando) and Adapted Screenplay.  Famously, Brando refused the award and sent Sacheen Littlefeather to make a speech.  The other nominees were Caan, Duvall and Pacino all up for Supporting Actor; Coppola for Director; as well as nominations for Costume Design, Sound and Film Editing.

Since this is Grammy week, it is notable that the film’s score by Nino Rota (ruled ineligible for an Oscar) won the Grammy for Music composed for movie or TV.

The screening starts at 7pm at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater.  Tickets are $5 and concessions are available.