Laurence Fishburne to Star in Uhry's Without Walls in L.A.

The Center Theatre Group has announced the casting of film star Laurence Fishburne in Without Walls, a new play by Alfred Uhry running at the Mark Taper Forum from June 1st through July 16th at the Los Angeles Theatre.

Directed by Christopher Ashley, the show will feature Tony Award-winner Fishburne as teacher Morocco Hemphill. "At an open classroom education center in Manhattan, Morocco teaches high school drama. He's inspirational. And popular with the kids. When students Lexy and Anton get the leads in the school's production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, life starts to imitate art as their relationship with Morocco mirrors the play. Like Miss Brodie, Morocco is an unorthodox instructor who stands up against conventionality. And like in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, the special bond formed between students and teacher takes a treacherous turn," state Mark Taper notes.

Though perhaps best known to most for his role as Morpheus in the Matrix films, Fishburne is an actor acclaimed for his work on both stage and screen. He won a Tony Award (as well as Drama Desk and Theatre World Awards) for his performance in August Wilson's Two Trains Running, and also appeared on Broadway in the revival of The Lion in Winter. His film credits include Mystic River, Miss Evers' Boys, Othello, What's Love Got to Do with It, Boyz n the Hood and Apocalypse Now.

Uhry, who won a Pulitzer for his Driving Miss Daisy and an Oscar for its adapted screenplay, also received two Tony Awards for The Last Night of Ballyhoo and the book of the musical Parade.

The Mark Taper Forum is located at 135 North Grand Ave. in L.A. Tickets are $20-$55. For more information, visit www.taperahmanson.com.