Wootton Grad Performs in Porgy and Bess at National Theatre

The Thomas S. Wootton High School community has a good reason to brag this week.

Actress and Wootton alumna Cicily Daniels is performing in Porgy and Bess at The National Theatre. The touring production closes in DC on Dec. 29, The Gazette reports.

Daniels, who has a theater degree from Yale, plays one of the women from Catfish Row, the newspaper reports. She’s appeared in the films Across the Universe and American Gangster. Her Broadway credits include The Little Mermaid and Rent, according to the actress’ bio.

The actress told the newspaper she was excited about performing in the play at National Theatre because of historical connections.

The original opera was set to end its first tour at National Theatre in 1936, but the play’s leading actors, Todd Duncan (Porgy) and Anne Brown (Bess) refused to perform until the theater manager lifted the its segregation policy—making the show the first to be performed before an integrated audience at National Theatre, The Gazette reports.