HLTC to Open Fifth Season with DRIVING MISS DAISY

The Harbor Lights Theater Company, led by Executive Artistic Director Tamara Jenkins, Co-Artistic Director Jay Montgomery, and Associate Producer Beth Gittleman, announces its fifth season as Staten Island's first and only Professional Equity theater company with the American classic Driving Miss Daisy.

Driving Miss Daisy, by Alfred Uhry, begins in 1948, and tells the story of the unlikely relationship between Daisy Werthan, a wealthy 72 year-old Jewish widow in Atlanta, and her chauffeur, Hoke Colburn, a proud, soft spoken African-American man. Spending twenty five years together, during a period of massive changes in America -- in which they both face bigotry and discrimination -- they ultimately become friends. Funny and powerfully affecting, Driving Miss Daisy won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and inspired the 1989 movie, which won four Oscars, including Best Picture.

"What at first seems to be a reluctant employer/employee relationship between two people who've been separated by societal restrictions all their lives becomes a genuine friendship, born of the common challenges of bigotry, aging, and the simple human need for companionship. Audiences are going to fall in love with our Driving Miss Daisy" said Tamara Jenkins, Executive Artistic Director of Harbor Lights.

Joy Franz, whose Broadway credits include Pippin, Musical Chairs, A Little Night Music, Open Admissions, Guys & Dolls, the original West End production of Company, and Into The Woods (twice!) returns to Harbor Lights to play "Miss Daisy." Joy is a favorite of Harbor Lights' audiences, having hilariously played "Claree" in Steel Magnolias and "Lilian" in I Hate Hamlet.

Staten Islander Larry Marshall returns to Harbor Lights to play "Hoke." Mr. Marshall's numerous Broadway credits include The Color Purple, Hair, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Rock-A-Bye Hamlet, Comin' Uptown, Oh Brother!, Big Deal, Play On!, The Three Penny Opera, The Full Monty, and Porgy and Bess (for which he received a Tony nomination); film credits include "Simon Zealotes" in Jesus Christ Superstar and "Cab Calloway" in The Cotton Club. Larry is also well known to Harbor Lights' audiences, having appeared in three productions, including as "Mayor Shinn" in The Music Man.

"Boolie" will be portrayed by Jay Montgomery. Mr. Montgomery, whose credits include Falsettos on Broadway and over seventy regional productions, is Harbor Lights' Co-Artistic Director, and has appeared in I Hate Hamlet, Marry Me a Little, The Music Man, and My Way for the company, as well as directing An O. Henry Christmas, The Empress, and My Way.

Stephen Nachamie also returns to Harbor Lights to direct, having just helmed the company's hit holiday production of It's a Wonderful Life, as well as I Hate Hamlet in Harbor Lights' first season. Mr. Nachamie most recently received unanimous praise for his landmark production of A Chorus Line at the Olney, which garnered multiple Helen Hayes Award nominations.