(Photo: Fernando Leon/Getty Images)

A multiracial production of Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire opened on Broadway at the legendary Broadhurst Theatre on Sunday night.  Starring Blair Underwood in the iconic role of Stanley, which was made famous by Marlon Brando, Streetcar is directed by Emily Mann, who was behind Cat on a Hit Tin Roof on Broadway. In an interview with BET.com, Mann, who knew Mr. Williams, explained it was a dream of the legendary playwright to see a multiracial version of his work. Williams would certainly be proud of the remix given to his Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

Along with Underwood as Stanley, there is the consistently fabulous Daphne Rubin-Vega as Stella. Stella is devoted to her husband, Stanley, but struggling with the conflict he has with her sister, Blanche DuBois — passionately delivered by Nicole Ari Parker. Wood Harris of The Wire is DuBois’s love interest, who shows his range as an actor. The polished cast breathed fresh life into Williams’s characters, smoothly relying on the cultural bearings of the African-American experience, but never resorting to stereotypes.

The entire cast had their shining moments, but it was Nicole Ari Parker who gave the most intense performance of her career. Blanche DuBois is no easy task and Boris Kodjoe’s significant other ripped fire into DuBois. Furthermore, Parker, who has an acting degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, is making her Broadway debut with Streetcar — her portrayal of Blanche looks like the work of a Broadway veteran. As I was leaving the theater, the main commentary was: “Nicole Ari Parker deserves a Tony nomination!”

A Streetcar Named Desire is another example of the needed diversity on Broadway. It can be an arduous journey to get people of color on the Broadway stage, and even when we see ourselves on the Great White Way, the production is often scrutinized with a microscope. Thankfully, Streetcar can handle the scrutiny.  From the superb direction of Emily Mann to the beautiful music from Terence Blanchard, if you are a fan of sophisticated, intellectual theater — with a strong helping of comic relief — you will not be disappointed.

A Streetcar Named Desire is currently playing at the Broadhurst Theatre.

Essence is getting rave reviews for its October issue, which features Lance Gross, Boris Kodjoe and Blair Underwood.  The Essence issue celebrates Black actors and has them talking their love of Black women.  Underwood has been married since 1994, Kodjoe has been married to Nicole Ari Parker since 2005 and Lance Gross has been linked to several models, including Eva Marcille.

Here is a quote from Lance:

“…My parents have been married for 43 years. What I’ve learned about love is that communication is everything. I’m also paying more attention to the little things because they add up…” –Lance Gross

I wonder if this makes up for the Reggie Bush fiasco…