Amber Tamblyn will make her Broadway debut in "The Miss Firecracker Contest" in the role made famous by Holly Hunter in the 1989 film version of Beth Henley's play
Tony Award-winning actress Judith Ivey will make her Broadway debut as a director for the play, which is set to open in the spring of 2013 at a theater yet to be named. Ivey is currently appearing with Jessica Chastain and David Strathairn in the Broadway revival of "The Heiress."
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"The Miss Firecracker Contest" tells the story of Carnelle Scott, a Southern girl hoping her patriotic tap dance in the Miss Firecracker Contest will bring not only a victory but will allow her to salvage her tarnished reputation as the town's "Miss Hot Tamale" and escape Brookhaven, Miss., in a "crimson blaze of glory."
Tamblyn (left) has appeared in numerous television shows, including "House M.D.," and films, including "127 Hours," "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and the upcoming "Django Unchained."
Henley's work hasn't been seen on Broadway since 1982, when "The Wake of Jamey Foster," ran for 12 previews and 12 regular performances. A year earlier, "Crimes of the Heart" made its bow. She picked up the Pulitzer Prize for Drama that year.
"The Miss Firecracker Contest" played off-Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club in 1984 and was later made into the film, "Miss Firecracker," which in addition to Hunter starred Mary Steenburgen and Tim Robbins.
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Earlier this year, Henley's "The Jacksonian" had its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood. Directed by Robert Falls, the dark comedy — set in 1964 Mississippi — featured a cast that included Ed Harris and wife Amy Madigan, Bill Pullman and Glenne Headly.
"The Miss Firecracker Contest" is produced by Hop Theatricals and Larry Kaye, whose previous credits include the Tony-nominated "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Laroquette) and Green Day's "American Idiot." Upcoming projects include "The Velocity of Autumn," Eric Coble's new Broadway-bound play starring Estelle Parsons and Stephen Spinella, and the musical "The Tapioca Miracle."