Denzel Washington to mend Fences on Broadway



It is reported that Denzel Washington is to return to Broadway starring in a revival of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Fences. The drama, being produced by Scott Rudin and Carole Shorenstein Hays, is expected to arrive on Broadway in Apr 2010 for a limited engagement.

Washington is to star as 'Troy Maxson,' the role played by James Earl Jones when Fences premiered on Broadway in 1987.

The original Broadway production played 525 regular performances and won four Tony Awards: Best Play; Best Director - Lloyd Richards; Best Actor - James Earl Jones and Best Featured Actress - Mary Alice.

Fences is set in the late 1950's and tells the story of 'Troy Maxson,' an embittered ex-con and former negro baseball player. Discrimiation stops Maxson from gaining promotion at work, and the resultant shame he feels for not being able to provide adequately for his family causes him to emotionally wihdraw from them.

This will be Washington's third outing on Broadway. The actor made his Broadway debut as 'Sylvester Williams' in 'Checkmates' (1988) and last appeared on Broadway as 'Brutus' in Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar' (2005).

Washington has won two Academy awards ('Training Day' and 'Glory'). His many films include 'Malcolm X,' 'Philadelphia,' 'The Pelican Brief,' Cry Freedom.'

The producers hope that Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun) will direct the production.

Denzel Washington

Originally published on

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