James Earl Jones to Star in Forthcoming Broadway Revival of Gore Vidal’s The Best Man

James Earl Jones will play Arthur Hockstader in the forthcoming Broadway revival of Gore Vidal’s The Best Man. As previously reported, Michael Wilson will direct this production, which plans to open on Broadway in the spring of 2012.

Jones is currently starring opposite Vanessa Redgrave in the Broadway revival of Driving Miss Daisy. He has received Tony Awards for his performances in Fences and The Great White Hope, and a Tony Award nomination for On Golden Pond. Among his many other Broadway credits are Cat on A Hot Tin Roof, MASTER HAROLD…and the Boys, A Lesson From Aloes, Othello, and The Iceman Cometh.

Vidal’s play, first seen on Broadway in 1960 and revived in 2000, focuses on politicians who are vying for a presidential nomination at a political party’s national convention. Jones’ character is a Truman-esque former president torn between endorsing two potential presidential nominees.