The Road to Mecca, Starring Rosemary Harris, Carla Gugino and Jim Dale, Opens on Broadway

The Broadway premiere of Athol Fugard’s 1987 drama The Road to Mecca, starring Tony winners Rosemary Harris and Jim Dale and stage and screen vet Carla Gugino, opens January 17 at the American Airlines Theatre. Directed by Gordon Edelstein, the production is slated to run until March 4.

Celebrity guests expected to attend the opening night performance include Connie Britton, Amy Irving, Cherry Jones, Judith Ivey, Katie Finneran, Simon Jones, Santino Fontana, Byron Jennings, Jason Fuchs, Edward Hibbert, Roger Rees, James Lapine, Rob Ashford, Mark Brokaw, Sheldon Harnick, Stephen Karam, Michael Mayer, Tony Walton, Tony Roberts, Dick Scanlan, Neil Simon and Charles Strouse.

Set in South Africa in 1974, The Road to Mecca is based on the true story of Miss Helen Martins (Harris), an aging woman who transforms her home into a glittering work of art after her husband’s passing. When the church pastor (Dale) attempts to put her into an old age home, Helen’s spirited friend Elsa (Gugino) insists she stay put. Ultimately, the choice is up to Helen.

“It's a wonderful part for an older woman,” Harris recently told Broadway.com. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful play.”