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The first of Uhry's Atlanta Trilogy, which focuses on the white Jewish residents of the city in the early 20th century, Driving Miss Daisy tells the story of the relationship that develops over 25 years between an elderly Southern white Jewish woman, Daisy Werthan, and her African-American chauffeur Hoke Colburn.
Based on themes of race and religion, the play has particular resonance given current race relations in the U.S. and religious conflicts worldwide.
Uhry turned the play into the screenplay for a 1989 movie of the same name that starred Jessica Tandy as Daisy, Morgan Freeman as Hoke and Dan Aykroyd as Daisy's son Boolie. That adaptation won Uhry the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1990.
Stages Repertory Theatre is mounting a new production of the play which runs through September 13th, 2015. Directed by Stages artistic director Kenn McLaughlin, it stars Sally Edmundson as Daisy.
Kenn and Sally talk with Houston Public Media's St.John Flynn about the play.