Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City)  directs this tense workplace thriller by Joel Drake Johnson (The Fall to Earth), examining the realities of so-called “post-racial” America. Academy Award® winner Dianne Wiest and Tony Award® winner Tonya Pinkins star as co-workers who are driven apart by the machinations of their boss. A chilling power struggle ensues that spins wildly out of control. Rasheeda Speaking is an incisive and shocking dark comedy that keeps you in its claustrophobic grip until its final moment. Also featuring Patricia Conolly (Is He Dead?) and Darren Goldstein (The Affair).

“Stripped of costumes and props, today’s best-known artists from the Broadway stage and Carnegie Hall offer intimate and thrilling performances for the camera.”

That’s the description for one of my favorite features from The NY Times — their In Performance series. I absolutely love the stripped down, simplistic presentation of these performances.

Recently In Performance featured Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest in their series.

Tonya and Dianne’s portrayal of ‘Jaclyn’ and ‘Ileen’ is so mesmerizing. Tonya’s confident, playful knowing coupled with Dianne’s quirky, awkward discomfort is fodder for beautiful theatre.

I’ve been in love with Tonya’s craft since I became familiar with Caroline, Or Change and Noah’s Arc: Jumping The Broom.

She has the ability to disappear so seamlessly into characters. From Caroline in Caroline, or Change (Eugene O’Neill Theatre, 2004) to Big Mama in Hurt Village (Signature Theatre, 2012), Tonya Pinkins’ chameleon-like transformations as an actor are a joy to behold.

Watch Tonya and Dianne in their In Performance feature of Rasheeda Speaking below — then get to The New Group at The Pershing Square Signature Center TODAY to see them tell the entire story on stage.

The post Tonya Pinkins In Performance: Rasheeda Speaking appeared first on Broadway Black.