Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Giancarlo Esposito joins cast

Giancarlo Esposito is to play Gooper in the all African-American production of Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize winning play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, to be helmed by Debbie Allen, who is making her Broadway directional debut.

Giancarlo Esposito will star along side the previously announced James Earl Jones, Terrence Howard, Phylicia Rashad and Anika Noni Rose.

Esposito last appeared on Broadway in 1995 in 'Sacrilege,' his other Broadway credits include: 'Don't Get God Started' (1987), 'Merrily We Roll Along' (1981), 'Seesaw' (1973), 'Lost in the Stars' (1972) and 'Maggie Flynn' (1968). His film credits include His film credits include "Malcom X,' 'Do the Right Thing.' He is known to many for his his portrayal of 'Agent Mike Giardello' inthe TV crime drama 'Homicide: Life on the Street.'

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will open at the Broadhurst Theatre on 6 Mar 2008, following previews from 12 Feb and run for a limited engagement through to 13 Apr 2008.

Hypocrisy, greed and secret passions threaten to tear apart a wealthy but dysfunctional Mississippi family in Tennessee Williams' stunning American masterpiece. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof portrays the larger-than-life characters of Maggie "the Cat" (Anika Noni Rose), her alcoholic husband, Brick (Terrence Howard), and the dominating family patriarch, Big Daddy (James Earl Jones).

The creative team features: Ray Klausen (sets), Jane Greenwood (costumes), William Grant III (lighting) and John H. Shivers (sound).