Angela Bassett has signed on to play opposite Samuel L. Jackson as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Broadway production of "The Mountaintop," the Olivier Award-winning play by Memphis native Katori Hall. Halle Berry had originally been cast as Camae, the mysterious Lorraine Motel maid who brings room service to King on the night before his assassination. Berry, however, withdrew from the role. The L.A. Times reports that "The Mountaintop" posed a scheduling conflict for Bassett:
... Bassett's commitment to the New York drama means that she will have to withdraw from the Pasadena Playhouse's planned fall production of the play "Pastoral," by Frank Tangredi.
"Pastoral" was originally scheduled to have its world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse in November, with Bassett in the lead role as a pastor facing multiple crises.Sheldon Epps, the artistic director of the playhouse, said in an email that the company leaders are "examining our options and may adjust our production schedule so that Angela can do the play with us in the future. I do of course wish her great success with the Broadway production."
Great job Katori! Its good to see a fellow Craigmont H.S. alum doing great!