| Lane Davies to star as Henry Higgins in Lamplighter's production |
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By: ERIN EDGEMON, Business Editor
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Posted: Sunday, September 13, 2009 7:04 am
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Submitted Photo by Kenn Stilger: Lane Davies, as Prof. Henry Higgins, Christina Spitters, as Eliza Doolittle, and Jordan Stephens, as Col. Hugh Pickeing star in "My Fair Lady."
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Lane Davies, star of stage, screen and television, is set to play the seminal role of Henry Higgins in the Lamplighter’s Theatre Co.’s production of “My Fair Lady.”
It is a role Davies calls “one of the greatest characters in theater.”
“I did Henry Higgins in high school believe it or not,” Davies said in an interview with The Murfreesboro Post. “I have always thought I would get to do Henry Higgins again. The opportunity didn’t come up.”
So, when Davies heard that Lamplighter’s was doing the production, he called and asked if he could play the role. It didn’t hurt either that Davies went to college with Ron Meeks, the executive producer of Lamplighter’s.
Davies said Higgins is an “extremely loveable narcissistic character” and he is “extremely articulate. He is a romantic character in an odd kind of way.”
Lamplighter’s will stage the Lerner & Loewe’s classic Sept. 18-20 and Sept. 25-27. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday performances are at 4:30 p.m.
The musical took Broadway by storm when it opened in 1956, earning nine Tony Awards.
Middle Tennessee-based Greg Wilson is directing the production, which he said is “full to overflowing with the kind of talent that is generally reserved for much larger venues.”
Christina Spitters, last seen on the Lamplighter’s stage as Miss Caroline Bingley in Jane Austin’s “Pride & Prejudice” assumes the role of Eliza Doolittle.
Davies, an MTSU graduate, was the original Mason Capwell on NBC’s Santa Barbara, an international hit, which has played in more than 53 countries.
His television credits include seven pilots and 50 guest-star appearances, in shows like Seinfeld, Lois & Clark – The New Adventures of Superman, 3rd Rock from the Sun, The Practice and Scrubs.
Most people may recognize Davies for his role as Elliott’s dad on Scrubs.
“Those episodes I did seem to rerun about every week,” he said.
A native of Dalton, Ga., Davies graduated from MTSU in 1972.
After being recommended by a friend and a guidance counselor, MTSU was the only school he applied to.
“It gave me a good basic foundation in theater arts,” Davies said. “It was a strong department even back then.”
He said school, however, did not prepare him for film and television.
After doing some regional theater following college, Davies went to Hollywood to look for work and ended up staying.
His role on Santa Barbara was his big break in the industry.
Now, as he splits his time between north Georgia and Tennessee, Davies is happy about what he has accomplished and glad to be back in the South doing regional and local theater.
“It is great to earn a living doing something that you love to do,” Davies said. “That is the lucky part of it. I knew early on (acting) was something that I wanted to do.
“I wasn’t good at anything else,” he said jokingly.
Davies said he spent three decades in Los Angeles but it never felt like home.
“The Southeast is what felt like home,” he said. “Now, I pretty much divide my time between north Georgia and Tennessee. I guess I am just southern and other places don’t feel like home.”
Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.
“My Fair Lady” at Lamplighter’s Theater Sept. 18-20 & 25-27
Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30; Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
Lamplighter’s is located on the campus of Smyrna Assemby at 14119 Old Nashville Highway. Tickets are available at www.ticketsnashville.com.
For more information, contact Lamplighter’s at 534-0148 or visit www.lamplightertheatre.net.
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