Barefoot in the Park Barefoot in the Park Barefoot in the Park is a romantic comedy by Neil Simon. The play premiered on Broadway in 1963, and starred Robert Redford and Elizabeth Ashley. The play was made into a film in 1967, also starring Redford (and Jane Fonda). The play opened on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre on October 23, 1963 and closed on June 25, 1967 after 1,530 performances. This was Neil Simon's longest-running hit, and the tenth longest-running non-musical play in Broadway history. Directed by Mike Nichols, the cast starred Elizabeth Ashley (Corie), Robert Redford (Paul), Mildred Natwick (Mrs. Banks), and Kurt
Horton Foote ... So in other words, you have to get both our permissions to do it." Playwright Lillian Hellman adapted his play for the 1966 film "The Chase", with Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda and Robert Redford. Foote provided the voice of Jefferson Davis for Ken Burns' critically acclaimed documentary, "The Civil War" (PBS, 1990), and adaptations of his plays "The Habitation of Dragons" (TNT, 1992) and "Lily Dale" (Showtime, 1996) preceded the Showtime production of "Horton Foote's Alone" (1997). His final work was the screenplay for "Main Street", a 2010 dramatic film. Foote was awarded an honorary doctorate from Carson-Newman University.