Roundabout's THE ROAD TO MECCA Opens on Broadway Tonight!

Roundabout Theatre Company tonight opens Athol Fugard's THE ROAD TO MECCA, featuring Tony Award® winner RoseMary Harris as "Miss Helen," Carla Gugino as "Elsa Barlow" and Tony Award® winner Jim Dale as "Marius Byleveld," and directed by Gordon Edelstein. 

Set in the region of South Africa known as the Karoo, The Road to Mecca tells the story of an elderly woman who has spent the years since her husband's death transforming her home into an intricate and dazzling work of art. The reclusive Miss Helen (RoseMary Harris) has become depressed and appears increasingly unable to care for herself. Pastor Marius Byleveld, who embodies the village's conservative values, is determined to get Miss Helen into an old-age home. Her friend Elsa (Carla Gugino), a young teacher from Cape Town who is deeply suspicious of the patriarchal traditions Byleveld represents, is just as determined that Miss Helen remain free.

Roundabout's production of The Road to Mecca will begin Athol Fugard's 80th birthday celebration which will continue in February 2012 at Signature Theatre Company. Signature will launch their theatre's new home, Signature Center with Athol Fugard as its inaugural Residency One playwright.

Residency One is Signature's core one year playwright-in-residence program that produces a series of plays from the body of work of one accomplished writer. Throughout the season, Signature will explore the works of Fugard, the South African playwright, director and actor, who also was honored with a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Tony Awards this past season. Roundabout's production of The Road to Mecca is by special arrangement with Signature Theatre Company.

Tickets are available by calling Roundabout Ticket Services at (212)719-1300 , online at www.roundabouttheatre.org or at the American Airlines box office (227 West 42nd Street). Ticket prices range from $67.00-117.00.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus