Born Yesterday: revival planned, Chris Noth and Hayley Atwell may star

Baz Bamigboye of the Daily Mail reports that Chris Noth and British actress Hayley Atwell are in negotiations to star in a planned Broadway revival of Garson Kanin's comedy, Born Yesterday. The show will arrive on Broadway later this year if Noth's schedule allows him to commit to a Broadway run.

In Born Yesterday: An uncouth, corrupt tycoon, Harry Brock, brings his showgirl mistress Billie Dawn with him to Washington, D.C. When Billie's ignorance becomes a liability to Brock's business dealings, he hires a journalist, Paul Verrall, to educate his girlfriend. In the process of learning, Billie Dawn realizes how corrupt her boyfriend is and begins interfering with his plans to bribe a Congressman into passing legislation that would allow Brock's business to make more money.

If the production goes ahead Noth will play corrupt tycoon 'Harry Brock' and Atwell will play his showgirl mistress 'Billie Dawn' - a role made famous by the actress Judy Holliday.

The planned revival will be the show's third outing on Broadway. It premiered at the Lyceum Theatre, starring Paul Douglas as 'Harry Brock' and Judy Holliday as 'Billie Dawn,' and was revived in 1998 at the 46th Street Theatre (now Richard Rodgers Theatre), starring Edward Asner as 'Harry Brock' and Madeline Kahn as 'Billie Dawn.'

The play has twice been adapted for the silver screen. The 1950 movie adaptation, once again saw Judy Holliday play the role of 'Billie,' this time alongside Broderick Crawford as 'Harry.' The movie shot the then unknown Billie Holiday to fame - and the star won her first Academy Award (for Best Actress), winning against Gloria Swanson, nominated for 'Sunset Boulevard,' Bette Davis, for 'All About Eve,' and Anne Baxter, for 'All About Eve.'

The 1993 movie saw John Goodman take on the role of 'Harry Brock' and Melanie Griffith that of 'Billie Dawn.' Melanie Griffith was not well received by ciritics and was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award (the awards 'dis'honor the worst achievements of the movie year.)

No further details about the planned Broadway revival are known, and there has been no official announcment.