Phylicia Rashad to Direct at Westport Country Playhouse

Phylicia Rash?d, the actress probably best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on NBC’s classic hit The Cosby Show will be directing at the Westport Country Playhouse, Broadway World confirms.

While Rash?d became internationally famous for her role as the matriarch of the Huxtable clan and wife to Bill Cosby’s Dr. Huxtable, the actress also has some serious theater chops. Rash?d won a Tony Award back in 2004 for her role in the play Raisin in the Sun, and she will bring her playhouse prowess to the theater company- which has in the past hosted such notables as Liza Minnelli, Eartha Kitt, Gene Wilder, Paul Newman, James Earl Jones, Ruth Gordon, Jessica Tandy, Olivia de Havilland, Eva Gabor and Jane Fonda.

The Westport Country Playhouse’s artistic director Mark Lamos commented on Rashad’s role:

“…to have Phylicia here at the helm on ‘Raisin,’ a play for which she’s won accolades as both an actor and a director, is a dream come true. I’ve known and admired her work for many years, and have also had the privilege of working with her. I know she’ll bring an immense reserve of knowledge, passion, and insight to the realization of this great American play.”

In addition to her role at the Playhouse, Rashad made news again this week for another theater-related accolade. The actress was appointed as the first Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre at Fordham University, after the Oscar-winning actor made a gift of $2.25 million to the university- his alma mater- to create the department.