Lindo, Santiago-Hudson & Hamilton Join Gem

Delroy Lindo, Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Lisa Gay Hamilton will join the previously announced Phylicia Rashad in the upcoming Broadway production of August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean. The show, which will also feature Anthony Chisholm, John Earl Jelks who appeared in the play at the Goodman Theatre and at the Mark Taper Forum and Raynor Scheine who also appeared in the Taper mounting, is set to begin previews at the Walter Kerr Theatre on October 23 one day later than first announced an officially open on November 11.

Gem of the Ocean begins on the eve of the 287th birthday of Aunt Ester Rashad. Citizen Barlow Jelks, a man who in spiritual turmoil, arrives at Aunt Ester's house in Pittsburgh's District Hill and is soon set off on a spiritual journey to find the mythic City of Bones, leading him to startling discoveries and setting him on a course of duty and redemption.

Lindo received Tony and Drama Desk nominations for the role of Herald Loomis in Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. He made his Broadway debut in 1982 in 'MASTER HAROLD'... and the boys and has worked extensively in numerous regional theaters. He received a Helen Hayes Award nomination and a NAACP Image Award as Best Actor for the Kennedy Center and Los Angeles productions of A Raisin in the Sun. His numerous film credits include Malcolm X, Crooklyn, Clockers, The Core, The One, The Last Castle, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Romeo Must Die, Pros and Cons, The Cider House Rules, A Life Less Ordinary, Ransom, Feeling Minnesota, Broken Arrow, Get Shorty and Mr. Jones.

Santiago-Hudson received Tony, Clarence Derwent, Drama League, FANY and Outer Critics Circle Awards for originating the role of Canewell in Wilson's Seven Guitars. He also appeared on Broadway in Jelly's Last Jam. His off-Broadway credits include his acclaimed solo show Lackawanna Blues for which he won an Obie Award, Henry VIII, Measure for Measure, East Texas Hot Links and Ceremonies in Dark Old Men. He recently completed production on an HBO film version of Lackawanna Blues, for which he wrote the screenplay from his play and serves as executive producer alongside Halle Berry and Vincent Cirrincione. His television credits include regular roles on the series Michael Hayes, Dear John and Another World.

Hamilton starred as Grace in Wilson's The Piano Lesson on the Great White Way. Her off-Broadway credits include Measure For Measure and Valley Song for which she received Obie and Clarence Derwent Awards. Her film credits include True Crime, Palookaville, Drunks, The Sum of All Fears, Hamlet and The Truth About Charlie. Hamilton was a series regular on The Practice.

Directed by Marion McClinton, Gem of the Ocean will play the Huntington Theatre in Boston from September 10 through October 17 before coming to Broadway.