Piccolo play headed to Broadway

This season, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival might have the biggest backstage news of all.

It involves a one-woman play, "All About Bette: An Evening With Bette Davis," which is part of the Piccolo Spoleto Theatre Series at the Footlight Players Theatre.

On Saturday at a lunch interview, Tony Award-winning producer Michael Jenkins told The Post and Courier that he plans to take Camilla Carr's play about the movie star Bette Davis to Broadway this year.

Having produced 122 plays in New York, Jenkins currently has the long-running, hit musical "Legally Blonde" on Broadway, and the comedy "Boeing-Boeing," which has garnered six 2008 Tony Award nominations. The Tony Awards will be aired June 15 on CBS and Garner plans to be in his seat at Radio City Music Hall.

The Texas native who lives in Dallas, but visits New York more than 30 times a year, said with unbridled exhilaration in his voice, "I first saw 'Bette' at the 99-seat Theatre 3 in Dallas last summer, and I decided then and there it was Broadway material for four reasons: It has a dramatic story to tell and will capture the public's imagination. The author, Camilla Carr, wonderfully captured the essence of Bette, the actress and the person; the director is extremely creative; and I was swept away by the performance of actress Morgana Shaw who is absolutely perfect as Bette. As a matter of fact she IS Bette."

After seeing the show performed in the 240-seat Footlight Players Theatre, Jenkins said he liked it even more, and is now trying to decide which New York theater would be most appropriate for staging it.

"I won the Tony last year for my special event production of 'The Two and Only' at the Helen Hayes (Theatre), which has 597 seats, and would like to take it there, but I'm also considering others," Jenkins said.

Asked why he didn't consider mounting the production Off-Broadway, since this is a one-person show, he answered, "I think it deserves more recognition than it would receive Off-Broadway, and also it wouldn't be eligible for a Tony Award nomination."

Jenkins, owner of LARC Leisure and Recreation Concepts with theme parks all over the world, and Dallas Summer Musicals, said three other producers have been in Charleston to see the play and two are "very enthusiastic," but he hasn't heard from the third one. "We've also had potential backers come here to see it, and I know we'll get some results from them."

He also has a ready answer as to why he is signing an unknown actress such as Shaw, whose stage work has mainly been in Texas. "I could get a big star who would bring in the public, but then they might leave the theater disappointed. With Morgana, they will see a truly brilliant portrayal by an unknown, and leave the theater happy.

The producer of 30 years noted, "It's really not about the money; it's about how a very talented actress also changed how business was run by the studios in Hollywood. I promise you, we're going to continue along this trail until we get results."

And since Jenkins brought the likes of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "Flower Drum Song," to the Great White Way, you believe him.

Reach Dottie Ashley at 937-5704 or dashley@postandcourier.com.