But the conversation didn’t stop there.

When the conversations shifted to the brain child of our Managing Editor April Reign, #OscarsSoWhite, Lupita had something to say.

We knew we liked Lupita. 

This isn’t the first time the Oscar winner has spoken out about the lack of representation in the Oscars. She took to Instagram weeks ago in alignment with her peers seeking change by saying: “The Awards should not dictate the terms of art in our modern society, but rather be a diverse reflection of the best of what our art has to offer today.”

Like the rest of us, she sees the need for expansion in the diversity of shows in order to better reflect the world we live in. She’s invested in sharing untold stories—much like that of the five African women, bonded together by turmoil and navigating war. The story she’s currently sharing 8 shows a week. 

I feel the change coming in the atmosphere and I’d like to believe it will be greater than changes in membership and voting policies. But until then, we’ll be in formation. We’re going to keep on creating. We’re going to keep on supporting. And here, we’re going to keep on highlighting the achievements and successes of African-American theatre artists on and off the Broadway stage. 

As for Sunday, February 28th. Well, we’ll be live-tweeting “The Wood.”

The post New Broadway Star Lupita Nyong’o talks #OscarsSoWhite appeared first on Broadway Black.

Gurira, who is most notably known as an actress — the star of the wildly popular AMC seriesThe Walking Dead — wrote the play fresh out of finishing her studies at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she earned her Master’s of Fine Arts. She’s starred on Broadway in the August Wilson play Joe Turner’s Come And Gone but is making her Great White Way debut as a playwright with Eclipsed.

“That’s kind of the thing that excites me the most is the idea that we’re breaking that type of barrier with these types of women and hearing these particular voices on The Great White Way,” she said. “It’s really time to break through those barriers and show that there isn’t a reason for the lack of representation or the under-representation.”

Read the entire Bold & Black On The Great White Way article and view more pictures of the entire cast HERE. Such a great read and gorgeous photography by Marc Baptiste. Below are just a few of our favorites including “Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o joined by a stellar ensemble including Pascale Armand, Akosua Busia, Zainab Jah and Saycon Sengbloh, & the playwright Danai Gurira.

The post The Women of Eclipsed Shine in Uptown Magazine appeared first on Broadway Black.

The history-making all-woman cast, director, and writing team stand behind a program that at its core, is looking to empower girls and women. The program will target 10,000 girls from the Tri-State area who would have otherwise not been able to experience a show on Broadway, and give them the opportunity to do so.

Now that’s a blessing.

Eclipsed playwright and 10,000 Girls Campaign spokesperson, Danai Gurira, champions this movement stating:

I wrote this play and gave it the title Eclipsed for young girls and women to be celebrated, to see their intrinsic value and light despite a world that may tell them otherwise. Ten Thousand Girls pursues that vision by exposing girls and young women to theater they would never otherwise see, and exposing them to women performers who look like them shine onstage. I hope and believe this initiative will spark a mind, an imagination, and awakens the many giants within these young women.

Eclipsed promotes liberation through telling the true story of African women in the midst of turmoil— the Liberian civil war. It is a story that marries the pain and reality of oppression with the humorous undertones of everyday life. It’s the definition of beauty in a struggle.

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, “a movement that changes both people and institutions is a revolution.” Let’s hope this revolution is televised—broadcasted and supported! But more importantly, influential in shaping a more diverse audience for tomorrow.

Donations can be made to sponsor girls through the Broadway Education Alliance. To find out more on how you can donate and join the revolution visit HERE.

So much great energy on the @eclipsedbway stage! Love this pic via @eclipsedbway

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 11:07am PST

 

#BroadwayBlack Moment w/ @lupita_nyongo & Our Founder @drewshade: You should be following @BroadwayBlack today of ALL days! I’m just saying. & if you haven’t gotten your tickets for Eclipsed with this amazingly talented woman you should really do that soon!

 

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 8:57am PST

Broadway producer @Lala Anthony & @eclipsedbway star @vintagepopsoul w/ #BroadwayBlack @ Meet & Greet!

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 8:16am PST

 

A historic day! @eclipsedbway press meet & greet! Previews start Feb 23!

 

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 7:42am PST

Mood. @eclipsedbway

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 8:22am PST

 

A model of the @eclipsedbway set we were just standing on! It truly came to life! You’ll find these pictures & more on BroadwayBlack.com later today!

 

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 8:25am PST

A model of the @eclipsedbway set we were just standing on! It truly came to life! You’ll find these pictures & more on BroadwayBlack.com later today!

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 8:25am PST

The post The Gift of Theatre: Eclipsed Launches 10,000 Girls Campaign appeared first on Broadway Black.

Anthony recently joined the producing team of the upcoming Broadway production of Eclipsed – the war drama written by playwright and “The Walking Dead” and “All Eyez on Me” actress Danai Gurira that stars Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o.

The play’s successful Off-Broadway run had celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder, and Common singing its praises and apparently Anthony was impressed, as well.

I am honored to champion and be actively involved in a production with such social and cultural merit and courageous storytelling.

— LA LA (@lala) January 21, 2016

The play, set in 2003 near the end of the civil war in Liberia, is about the survival and resilience of a group of women who are captives of rebels fighting the government. Nyong’o, who made her screen debut in “12 Years a Slave,” stars in the role of the “Girl,” the youngest of four captive wives of a rebel commander.

In addition to Nyong’o, the cast also features several Broadway performers, including Saycon Sengbloh (Hair, The Color Purple and Wicked), as well as Pascale Armand (The Trip to Bountiful), Akosua Busia (Mule Bone), and Zainab Jah (In Darfur).

Eclipsed is directed by Liesl Tommy, who staged the play’s premiere at the Woolly Mammoth Theater in Washington in 2009.

Since getting her start on MTV’s Total Request Live, Anthony has spread her wings and built a solid career in acting and business. She’s currently appearing in the Starz original drama series, “Power”, starring Omari Hardwick and Naturi Naughton. Her other acting credits include “Think Like a Man,” “Think Like a Man, Too”, “Baggage Claim”, and “Two Can Play That Game.” Anthony also has starred in her own reality series “Lala’s Full-Court Life” on VH1. Eclipsed isn’t her first foray into producing as she was a producer on Mike Tyson’s critically acclaimed documentary, “Tyson.”

Previews of Eclipsed begin February 23, 2016, with an official opening March 6, 2016 at the John Golden Theatre.

The post Lala Anthony Signs On To Produce Eclipsed On Broadway appeared first on Broadway Black.

Eclipsed Broadway

In Eclipsed, Lupita Nyong’o stars in a complicated and brilliant story of women living in the midst of war-torn Liberia. Several captive wives define their survival in different ways while locked in the grip of a raging civil war. A young woman comes along and must decide for herself what path she will forge through the chaos. The play, penned by playwright and actress Danai Gurira (known for her role as ‘Michonne’ on the television series, “The Walking Dead”) explores themes of identity and choice in this stunning production. The production will hit Broadway at the John Golden Theatre with previews on February 23 and opens on March 6, 2016.

#BroadwayBlack | Original Cast w/ @Lupita_Nyongo Set for @EclipsedBway, Will Make History https://t.co/gZLxb16kzy pic.twitter.com/SdySfxB4fl

— BROADWAY BLACK! (@BroadwayBlack) December 8, 2015

Head of Passes

Beloved actress and Tony Winner Phylicia Rashad returns to Broadway to star in Head of Passes, a play that speaks to audiences of faith, acceptance and family. Head of Passes will begin previews on March 15, 2016, at the Newman Theater. Opening night is set for March 28.

At the mouth of the Mississippi River, Shelah’s family and friends have come to celebrate her birthday and save her from a leaking roof. But in this contemporary parable inspired by the Book of Job, unexpected events turn the reunion into the ultimate test of faith and love. As her world seems to collapse around her, Shelah must fight to survive the rising flood of life’s greatest challenges.

JUST IN: Phylicia Rashad Will Star in @octarell's Head of Passes @PublicTheaterNY https://t.co/y77h9qgBs7 pic.twitter.com/kqLLjBvkZ0

— BROADWAY BLACK! (@BroadwayBlack) November 11, 2015

Shuffle Along

Shuffle Along is an African-American musical revue with music and lyrics by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, and a connecting plot about a mayoral race, written by Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles. Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Brandon Victor Dixon, Joshua Henry, and Billy Porter make this a show not to miss! Shuffle Along will begin previews March 15, 2016, and open April 28, 2016 at Music Box Theatre in New York.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUxTDUzHiNg

Whorl Inside A Loop (Broadway)

In Whorl Inside a Loop, a well-regarded actress agrees to teach six inmates how to tell their stories behind the bars of a men’s maximum-security prison. Sharing intimate and sometimes hilarious details of their former lives (while portraying characters of varying age, gender and race), this unlikely group forms a bond—even as the actress’ life outside spins out of control. And when what happens in prison doesn’t stay there, no one is sure whom to trust.

There’s quite a bit of buzz about this show making a Broadway debut in 2016 and we sincerely hope so! Although we’ve reported on the possibility of a Broadway transfer after it’s successful run at Second Stage Theatre, there is no official word about this work heading to Broadway. Stay tuned to Broadway Black for details on when and where to catch this production. (We’re crossing our fingers!)

Hughie

Oscar winner Forest Whitaker will make his Broadway debut in this limited engagement at the Boothe Theatre. Previews begin February 8, 2016, and Opening Night is February 25, 2016.

Summer, 1928. New York City. Beyond the bright lights of the Great White Way, a small-time gambler and big-time drinker returns to the faded hotel he has made his home. He encounters a new night clerk at the front desk and as the early hours of the morning give way to another dawn, he continues to chase the American Dream in order to survive. Hughie is a rarely seen theatrical masterpiece that beautifully investigates the themes of loneliness and redemption and offers a unique insight into the human condition.

Smart People

Kenny Leon directs this humorous offering by Lydia R. Diamond. Previews begin January 26, 2016 at the Tony Kiser Theatre with Opening Night set for February 11, 2016.

The quest for love, achievement and identity is universal, but what role does race play in the story of our lives? On the eve of Obama’s first election, four Harvard intellectuals find themselves entangled in a complex web of social and sexual politics in this provocative and funny new play by Lydia R. Diamond.

https://t.co/GB0rUSz0KC | #MahershalaAli & @TThompsonYES Will Star in Smart People @2STNYC https://t.co/tIgXEblKZ5 pic.twitter.com/HsIAfzi6zw

— BROADWAY BLACK! (@BroadwayBlack) November 2, 2015

The Color Purple

The Color Purple heralds the debut of powerhouse Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy-winning singer and actress Jennifer Hudson. The show began previews on Nov 10, 2015 and Opened Dec 10, 2015 and is currently running at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

This unforgettable and intensely moving new production mesmerized audiences when it premiered at London’s acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory, where critics hailed it as “a revelation” (Mark Shenton, The Stage). Now, this American classic comes to Broadway with a powerhouse cast including celebrated London star Cynthia Erivo, who will recreate her electrifying performance as Celie, along with “Orange is the New Black” star Danielle Brooks.

We would LOVE to know your thoughts about this line up and whether you will be making plans to attend. Tweet us @BroadwayBlack!

The post Broadway Black Approved: The Productions You Should See in Spring 2016 appeared first on Broadway Black.

And not the “Who made the bad potato salad?” variety.

This reunion has critics and audiences cheering as the Eclipsed cast that riveted theatergoers for 10 weeks at the Public Theater will assemble with lead actress Lupita Nyong’o. This time, they meet for a Broadway run at the John Golden Theatre.

That’s right. Saycon Sengbloh, Pascale Armand, Akosua Busia, and Zainab Jah reprise the roles written by playwright and actress Danai Gurira.  Zombiephiles may know Gurira from her groundbreaking role as the sword-wielding Michonne on AMC’s “The Walking Dead” series.

Eclipsed is a play about endurance and strength for women living through the Liberian Civil War. As previously reported, the play debuted at the Public Theater from September 29 – November 29^th, garnering acclaim and excitement for the Broadway debut.

The original cast has a long list of Broadway theatre credits to their names. Of course, Ms. Nyong’o has that golden statue with the bald head. What is his name again? Oh yeah. Oscar.

The amazing women who collaborated to make Eclipsed also made history. Director Liesl Tommy, Gurira, Nyong’o, and her cast mates, are putting on the first Broadway show to have an all female cast, director and writer. Ever.

Like… Ever.

Previews of Eclipsed begin February 23, 2016, with an official opening March 6, 2016.

As news of the cast announcement hit social media, the elation could hardly be contained. Celebrities have been touting the show’s brilliance for weeks.

Anticipation is building as Gurira dazzles across the talk show circuit. Could the Broadway show deliver during Tony season as well? Time will tell, but tickets for the show are definitely going to be sold out quick. Stay tuned.

The post Original Eclipsed Cast with Lupita Nyong’o Set For Broadway, Will Make History appeared first on Broadway Black.

Author of a show headed to Broadway? Check.

Awarded “Person of the Year” at the African Diaspora Awards? Check.

Leading role on a popular prime time Television series? Check.

While all of these great things were in the works, Danai still found the time to give back. Her giving back was in the form of mentoring her friend (and one of our favorites!) Lupita Nyong’o, through the selection process of which graduate program to attend. Although Nyong’o didn’t choose Gurira’s alma mater, Tisch School of The Arts, the two were still on the same page artistically. In Nyong’o’s first year at Yale, she understudied the role in Eclipsed she would go on to play at The Public Theatre this past fall. As previously reported, Nyong’o will reprise her role when Eclipsed opens on Broadway in February. And to say we cannot wait, is an understatement!

Gurira has a lot to be proud of. Eclipsed, which she penned in 2009, had an extraordinary run at The Public Theatre— it was extended twice and sold out. Her team is equally as impressive and diverse, which adds on to the relevance of her high pressure story telling the personhood of Liberian women “navigating survival during a vicious civil war.” The show is produced by two African-American lead producers, Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones-Harvey. Director Liesl Tommy, who staged the play’s premiere at the Woolly Mammoth Theater in Washington in 2009, is from South Africa. Lupita Nyong’o identifies as Mexican-Kenyan. Lastly, Gurira herself, was born in the United States and raised with her family in Zimbabwe. 

Outside of the playing “ Michonne” in The Walking Dead, Guira appeared in the films “The Visitor” and “Mother of George.” Her stage credits include the role of “ Isabella” in Measure for Measure for which she received the Actor’s Equity Callaway Award. As a playwright, she received an Obie Award, Outer Critics Award, and Helen Hayes Award for In the Continuum. For Eclipsed, Gurira won an NAACP Image Award, the Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play, and the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Production of a Play. Her latest play, will premiere in New York at Playwrights Horizons in February 2016.

The post Danai Gurira Talks Eclipsed And Friendship With Lupita On The Tonight Show appeared first on Broadway Black.

Some notable reviews are:

“Mesmerizing and unmissable.”– New York Magazine

“Scorching and powerful.” – The Guardian 

“A riveting, superbly acted production. Lupita Nyoug’o’s tremendously accomplished performance cuts to the bone. Under Liesl Tommy’s sensitive direction, Danai Gurira’s moving play flickers with light, humanity and hope.” – The New York Times

“Eclipsed pulls us into and holds us captive in a vivid world whose stark horrors are rendered with unflinching honesty and delicate poignancy….” – The Hollywood Reporter

And patrons have repeatedly chimed in:

Powerful, well-acted, and heartbreaking work. Every member of the cast and crew should be proud. #Eclipsed #EclipsedPlay

— hellresidentNY (@hellresidentNY) November 6, 2015

Congrats @aleostar on the successful opening of #Eclipsed !! You always bring out the legends!!Brava! pic.twitter.com/OuWvyGXno4

— Deborah Cox (@Deborah_Cox) October 15, 2015

I just saw the most gut-wrenchingly beautiful/painful/important play I've ever had the privilege to witness. #eclipsed @PublicTheaterNY

— Stephanie Beatriz (@iamstephbeatz) October 20, 2015

Watched #Eclipsed play and it's a must see. Great performances all around from #pascalearmand… https://t.co/oxvnvg1ga9

— Ama K Abebrese (@Ama_K_Abebrese) October 28, 2015

Gurira, Zimbabwean-American playwright and star of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” introduced the play at Yale Repertory Theatre in Fall 2009, during which Nyong’o had an understudy role and Liesl Tommy served as director. In a New York Times interview spotlighting the trio, Tommy stated: “I think with this play what we’re teaching folks is that there are plenty of interesting stories that happen on the vast continent of Africa, and that you can relate to them without seeing yourself, your race, or a version of yourself in it.”

With critics and audiences stunned, the production – written, directed and performed entirely by female artists – heads to Broadway early next year for a limited engagement at John Golden Theater.Nyong’o, who took home an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 2013 film “12 Years A Slave,” will make her Broadway debut continuing her portrayal of the newest wife, simply known as “The Girl,” of an unseen rebel tyrant.

Gurira debuted on Broadway in 2009 for August Wilson‘s  Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. She followed it up with In the Continuum, which earned her Obie and Outer Critic Circles awards. Her work Familiar will open at Playwrights Horizons in the spring.

Eclipsed – the only new play by a woman on Broadway this season – will open March 6, with previews beginning Feb. 23. Set to run through June 19, it is produced by Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones-Harvey of Front Row Productions.

Public Theater art director Oskar Eustis is quoted as saying: “Broadway will be better for having Eclipsed on it, and I hope it will break a barrier that will stay broken, if it proves that shows like this can make it on Broadway.”

Eclipsed has won an NAACP Award, the Helen Hayes Award (Best New Play) and Connecticut Critics Circle Award (Outstanding Production of a Play). The cast currently includes Pascale Armand, Akosua Busia, Zainab Jah and Saycon Sengbloh.

Tickets for the Broadway run are on sale HERE.

The post Eclipsed Enters Final Week At Public Theater, Broadway On Horizon appeared first on Broadway Black.

Well the FANTASTIC NEWS is that #EclipsedPlay is MOVING TO BROADWAY!!! #Morepeoplegettoseeit #Broadway2016

A photo posted by Lupita Nyong’o (@lupitanyongo) on Oct 20, 2015 at 4:48am PDT

The current Off-Broadway run has been extended not once, but twice. Having a Broadway run will make her eligible for 2016 Tony Award consideration and that is great news to our ears! The show will have a strictly limited engagement starting Februrary 23rd, 2016. Presale tickets for Citi card memebers are now available until Oct 27th and general public tickets will be available shortly after that.

Nyong’o made her highly anticipated New York stage debut in Obie-winning playwright’s war drama Eclipsed at the Public Theatre on October 14. The show had a star-studded soft opening night on October 13 which included icon & The Color Purple producer Oprah Winfrey.

The play, set in 2003 near the end of the civil war in Liberia, is about the survival and resilience of a group of women who are captives of rebels fighting the government. Nyong’o, who made her Academy Award-winning screen debut in “12 Years a Slave,” stars in the role of “Girl,” the youngest of four captive wives of a rebel commander.

In addition to Nyong’o, the cast also features several Broadway performers, including Saycon Sengbloh (Hair, The Color Purple and Wicked), as well as Pascale Armand (The Trip to Bountiful), Akosua Busia (Mule Bone), and Zainab Jah (In Darfur).

Zimbabwean-American Gurira stars as the sword-wielding, zombie killer “Michonne” on AMC’s hit series “The Walking Dead.” She’s appeared in the films “The Visitor” and “Mother of George.” Her stage credits include the role of “ Isabella” in Measure for Measure for which she received the Actor’s Equity Callaway Award. As a playwright, she received an Obie Award, Outer Critics Award, and Helen Hayes Award for In the Continuum. For Eclipsed, Gurira won an NAACP Image Award, the Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play, and the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Production of a Play. Her latest play, Familiar, will premiere in New York at Playwrights Horizons in February 2016.

Eclipsed is directed by Liesl Tommy, who staged the play’s premiere at the Woolly Mammoth Theater in Washington in 2009. For tickets, click HERE.

The post Lupita Nyong’o Will Take Eclipsed To Broadway In February appeared first on Broadway Black.

The play, set in 2003 near the end of the civil war in Liberia, is about the survival and resilience of a group of women who are captives of rebels fighting the government. Nyong’o, who made her Academy Award-winning screen debut in “12 Years a Slave,” stars in the role of the “Girl,” the youngest of four captive wives of a rebel commander.

In addition to Nyong’o, the cast also features several Broadway performers, including Saycon Sengbloh (Hair, The Color Purple and Wicked), as well as Pascale Armand (The Trip to Bountiful), Akosua Busia (Mule Bone), and Zainab Jah (In Darfur).

Zimbabwean-American Gurira also stars as the sword-wielding, zombie killer “Michonne” on AMC’s hit series “The Walking Dead”. She’s also appeared in the films “The Visitor” and “Mother of George.” Her stage credits include the role of “ Isabella” in Measure for Measure for which she received the Actor’s Equity Callaway Award. As a playwright, she received an Obie Award, Outer Critics Award, and Helen Hayes Award for In the Continuum. For Eclipsed, Gurira won an NAACP Image Award; the Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play, and the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Production of a Play. Her latest play Familiar will premier in New York at Playwrights Horizons in February 2016.

Eclipsed is directed by Liesl Tommy, who staged the play’s premiere at the Woolly Mammoth Theater in Washington in 2009.

Although the production was originally slated to close Nov. 8, it will now have nine-week run, with a final performance on Nov.29. For tickets and more information, visit here.

#FlashbackFriday to #TheOtherNight The cast of Eclipsed #OpeningNight @publictheaterny

A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Oct 16, 2015 at 9:03am PDT

#FlashbackFriday via @vintagepopsoul Heading to opening night party! #EclipsedPlay #SayconSengbloh #openingnight #kortomomolu #liberiandesigner @kortomomolu A video posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Oct 16, 2015 at 9:08am PDT

By @lupitanyongo: So happy to have the Opening of #EclipsedPlay happen @publictheaterny. The intimacy with the audience in the LuEsther theater is precious for us as actors. Thank you for all the support!

A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Oct 16, 2015 at 9:16am PDT

#FlashbackFriday the beautiful ladies of #EclipsedPlay cast @publictheaterny #openingnight A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Oct 16, 2015 at 9:42am PDT

#FlashbackFriday #TheWizLive, @bwaycolorpurple cast members support #EclipsedPlay @publictheaterny

A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Oct 16, 2015 at 9:37am PDT

The post Eclipsed Opens Off-Broadway Starring Lupita Nyong’o appeared first on Broadway Black.