Dixie Carter&Hal Holbrook 'Southern Comfort' Ft. Lauderdale-Opens Wednesday!

HAL HOLBROOK

 DIXIE CARTER 

TO SHOWCASE SPECTACULAR THEATRICAL TALENTS IN

KATHLEEN CLARK'S NEW PLAY "SOUTHERN COMFORTS" Currently running at MIAMI'S COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE, MOVING ON TO FT. LAUDERDALE TO OPEN MARCH 1 AT PARKER PLAYHOUSE

HAL HOLBROOK and DIXIE CARTER, a duo of the entertainment world's most versatile and applauded actors, are taking on a tour de force challenge co-starring in Kathleen Clark's two-person play, SOUTHERN COMFORTS, through February 26 at Miami's Coconut Grove Playhouse.  Following its three week run in the Grove, the play will move on to Ft. Lauderdale where it will play March 1-5 at the Parker Playhouse.

Directed by Leonard Foglia/>/>, who scored a Tony nomination for the Broadway revival of "On Golden Pond/>/>" and directed "Master Class" on Broadway, SOUTHERN COMFORTS is the work of playwright Kathleen Clark who has twice been selected to have her plays presented at the Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference, and whose "Soccer Moms" was directed in New York by Judith Ivey/>/>.

SOUTHERN COMFORTS has already been selected by New York's prestigious not-for-profit Primary Stages for its Fall season.

A made to order opportunity for the married-to-each other Holbrook and Carter to work together, each will have the opportunity to shine in Clark's account of two widowers who meet in a small New Jersey town and through discovery and conflict find a way to each other's hearts.  

A stalwart of the American stage, Hollywood and TV, HAL HOLBROOK, who appeared in the Grove Playhouse production of "A Death of A Salesman," will forever be identified for his monumental Tony Award-winning performance as the philosophical and cantankerous American humorist in "Mark Twain Tonight." Arguably the longest running show in theater history, HOLBROOK'S extraordinary performance was to presage later work which, in addition to such other American heroes as Abraham Lincoln, was to result in a body of work which included starring roles on Broadway in "The Glass Menagerie," "The Apple Tree," "Man of La Mancha," and "I Never Sang for My Father;" appearances in more than 50 TV films and mini-series, including the popular "Evening Shade," 12 Emmy nominations, winning five; film roles including "Magnum Force," Wall Street," "The Firm," and the role of "Deep Throat" in the now classic, "All The President's Men," which, with recent revelations, was to bring him additional fame.

Readily recognized for her long time tenure on TV's "Designing Women" as Julia Sugarbaker and for her starring roles in seven other TV series, DIXIE CARTER will be coming from Washington, D.C.'s Shakespeare Theatre where she recently concluded a standing room only run as Mrs. Erlyn in Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan." Broadway fans will know CARTER for her earlier appearances in "Thoroughly Modern Mille," as Maria Callas in "Master Class," for her role as Melba in the Circle in the Square production of "Pal Joey," and for her run in "Sextet" at the Bijou Theatre.

SOUTHERN COMFORTS will have sets by Thomas Lynch whose Broadway credits include "Contact" and Tony nominations for "The Music Man," and "The Heidi Chronicles." Costumes are by Jane Greenwood, the recipient of 14 Tony Award nominations for over 100 productions, and a 2004 inductee into the Theatre Hall of Fame. Lighting design is by Brian D. Nason, sound by Steve Shapiro, and original music by Paul Schwartz.

Remaining Performances of SOUTHERN COMFORTS AT THE Coconut Grove Playhouse, 3500 Main Highway, Coconut Grove Florida, are Saturday, 8 P.M., matinees Saturday, and Sunday at 2 P.M.

Tickets range from $20-$60. For single tickets, groups and discounted ticket packages, call the box office (305) 442-4000. Student tickets are $15-$20. Rush tickets (2 hours before curtain) are $15-$45. For charge by phone and internet orders, a $5 convenience fee per ticket will be charged. Further information is available online at www.cgplayhouse.org.

Performances of SOUTHERN COMFORTS at Parker Playhouse. 707 N.E. 8^{th St., Ft. Lauderdale are Wednesday-Saturday at 8 P.M.; matinees Wednesday and Saturday, 2 P.M.; Sunday, 3 P.M. Tickets range from $20-$60. For single tickets and groups call the AutoNation Box Office (954) 462-0222; Subscriptions and discounted flexible ticket packages, (305) 442-4000 or toll free (877) 642-7529. Also online at www.ParkerPlayhouse.com}

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