Cicely Tyson (Carrie Watts)
CICELY TYSON (Carrie Watts) is best known for her ground breaking double Emmy-winning performance as Jane in “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.” Miss Tyson was also nominated for an Academy Award for Sounder. She then received her third Emmy Award for “The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All” and was nominated for her performances in “Roots,” “King,” “Sweet Justice,” “The Marva Collins Story,” and “A Lesson Before Dying.”
Vanessa Williams (Jessie Mae Watts)
VANESSA WILLIAMS (Jessie Mae Watts) has appeared on Broadway in Into the Woods (Tony nomination), Kiss of the Spider-Woman (Theatre World Award), and Sondheim on Sondheim, and Off-Broadway in St. Louis Woman in the City Center’s acclaimed Encores! Series. She is well-known for her three-time Emmy nominated performance as Wilhemina Slater in “Ugly Betty,” as well as her roles as Renee Perry in “Desperate Housewives” (NAACP Image Award) and Olivia Duran in “666 Park Avenue.”
Leon Addison Brown (Ludie Watts)
LEON ADDISON BROWN has previously appeared on Broadway in Prelude to a Kiss, On the Waterfront and Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me. His off-Broadway credits include The Train Driver, Two Trains Running, The Orphans’ Home Cycle, The Alexander Plays and The Lights. Regionally, Leon has appeared at Hartford Stage, Williamstown, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Westport Country Playhouse, and Arena Stage. His film and television credits include The Whirly Girl, Music of the Heart, and Law & Order: SVU.
Adepero Oduye (Young Woman on Bus)
ADEPERO ODUYE will be making her Broadway debut in The Trip To Bountiful. She was seen last year in the Lifetime Television Movie, Steel Magnolias, directed by Kenny Leon opposite Queen Latifah. Her theatre credits include Eclipsed at Yale Repertory Theatre and The Bluest Eye at Hartford Stage and Long Wharf Theatre.
Tom Wopat (Sheriff)
TOM WOPAT (Sheriff). Broadway: Catch Me if You Can (Drama Desk Nom.), Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair (Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League nominations), Glengarry Glen Ross (Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Revival), Chicago, 42nd Street, Annie Get Your Gun (Tony, Drama Desk nominations), Guys and Dolls, City of Angels, I Love My Wife.