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West Palm Beach, Fla. (Tuesday, May 20, 2025) Debra Jo Rupp, beloved by millions for her role as high-strung mom Kitty Forman in the long-running hit television series That ’70s Show (1998-2006), makes her Palm Beach Dramaworks debut in Alfred Uhry’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Driving Miss Daisy, which runs from February 6-22, 2026.
Although Rupp is best-known for her TV work – which includes the mini-series WandaVision and Agatha All Along, and recurring roles on Friends (as Phoebe’s sister-in-law) and This is Us – she has a long and rich theatre resume. Currently an associate artist with Barrington Stage Company where she has appeared in a dozen shows, Rupp has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and at numerous regional theatres.
“We are so delighted that Debra Jo will be playing Daisy Werthan,” said PBD Producing Artistic Director William Hayes. “She is an acclaimed and versatile stage artist, and those who know her only from her many roles on TV will have the opportunity to discover the breadth of her talent. She is the actor we imagined as Daisy when we scheduled the play, and we’re so pleased that she was eager to do the role.”
Driving Miss Daisy is the story of an unlikely, life-changing friendship between Daisy Werthan, a 72-year-old Jewish widow, and Hoke Coleburn, a Black chauffeur hired by her son Boolie. Set in Georgia, the play unfolds over a 25-year period, beginning in 1948. Daisy is initially hostile to Hoke, but despite seemingly insurmountable differences, their relationship blossoms into one of mutual respect and affection. PBD’s production will be directed by Julianne Boyd, founder of and former artistic director at Barrington Stage. The roles of Hoke and Boolie have not yet been cast.
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