Ernie Hudson & Billy Porter Join Birdie Blue at Second Stage

Ernie Hudson and Billy Porter will join previously announced star S. Epatha Merkerson in the Second Stage Theatre mounting of Cheryl L. West's Birdie Blue. The play, directed by Seret Scott, is scheduled to start off-Broadway on May 31.

Hudson recently appeared with Merkerson in the HBO film adaptation of Lackawanna Blues. His stage credits include mountings of King Hedley II and The Great White Hope. He is best known for his work in movies. His film credits include Ghostbusters, The Basketball Diaries, Miss Congeniality, Miss Congeniality II, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, The Jazz Singer and Congo. His is also known for playing Warden Leo Glynn on the HBO series Oz.

Porter recently starred in his own one-man show, Ghetto Superstar, at Joe's Pub as part of the Public Theater's 2004-2005 season. He has appeared on Broadway in Miss Saigon, Five Guys Named Moe, Grease and Smokey Joe's Café. His other theatrical credits include Romance In Hard Times, The Merchant of Venice, House of Lear, Angels in America, Jesus Christ Superstar, Antigone, A Chorus Line, Chicago, Dreamgirls and the pre-Broadway mounting of Little Shop of Horrors.

In Birdie Blue Merkerson plays the title character, a tough, funny and big-hearted woman. Times are tougher than ever, but Birdie welcomes us in, tells it like it is and then does what she has to in this reflection on love, marriage and the passage of time.

The show will officially open at Second Stage on June 23.