Laurence Fishburne Set for Taper’s Production of Uhry’s Without Walls

Laurence Fishburne will star in Alfred Uhry’s new drama Without Walls, which will play Los Angeles’ Mark Taper Forum, June 1-July 16. The production, to be directed by Christopher Ashley, will officially open on June 11. Two remaining roles are yet to be cast.

In the play, Fishburne will portray Morocco, an idealistic and popular drama teacher in a non-traditional Manhattan high school, circa 1977. Uhry is the author of the play and film of Driving Miss Daisy, for which he won the Academy Award and the Pulitzer Prize, as well as The Last Night of Ballyhoo and the book for Parade, both of which earned him Tony Awards. He also received Tony and Drama Desk nominations for the book and lyrics of The Robber Bridegroom.

Fishburne received the Tony Award for Two Trains Running and also starred on Broadway in The Lion in Winter. He received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Ike Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It. His other film includes The Matrix, Apocalypse Now, and the upcoming Akeelah and the Bee. FIshburne also received the Emmy Award for Tribeca.

Ashley’s directorial credits include The Rocky Horror Show, for which he received a Tony nomination, All Shook Up, and both the Off-Broadway and film versions of Jeffrey.