We’re accustomed to what has become standard practice for Hollywood studios: white actors playing black people (Exodus: Gods and Kings; 2014) and white writers (Django; 2012) telling black truths. This unseemly behavior by film studios is nothing new to black Americans and the African diaspora. But what is new and has us very excited is that amidst the growing discourse about the lack of black representation, more and more black writers are following in the footsteps of Spike Lee to produce works that unabashedly document black experiences.
Enter Danai Gurira (featured top right above) and her critically acclaimed play “ECLIPSED” which officially hits Broadway’s 804-seat John Golden Theater on March 6th, 2016!
For those living outside of New York, this is a play run worth the road trip. Make it a girls weekend or a date night, but don’t miss this historic moment. “ECLIPSED” is Broadway’s first play written by a woman, directed by a woman and starring all women (tweet this).
Fist pump. Yes, ladies we-are-hype! At 4c Hair Chick we highlight and celebrate underrepresented beauty. Children, teens and women- we all need to see ourselves reflected in media and we’re so proud to see this play move from it’s sold out run at the Public Theater Off-Broadway to Broadway.
Photo via Broadway.com; captured by Joan Marcus
“ECLIPSED” is a powerful story of survival and resilience. It tells the story of five extraordinary women brought together by war in their homeland of Liberia. The women forge a close-knit community, enduring unimaginable circumstances with humor, grace, and strength. Directed by South African-born Liesl Tommy and starring Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, Saycon Sengbloh (Motown), Akosua Busia (The Color Purple, film), Zainab Jah (“Law & Order: SVU”) and Pascale Armand (The Trip to Bountiful), with key producers Alia Jones Harvey, La La Anthony and Stephen C. Byrd.
Theater goers who had the opportunity to attend the Off-Broadway performance are raving about this heart-wrenching drama.
My girl crush on @Lupita_Nyongo only increased tenfold after sitting mere inches away from her in the front row at #EclipsedPlay. Flawless.????
— TriniPrincess (@TriniPrincess) December 16, 2015
Intermission at #EclipsedPlay. @Lupita_Nyongo is better than I could have ever imagined. Absolute chills.
— James Paguyo (@jimmypags3) November 25, 2015
Powerful, well-acted, and heartbreaking work. Every member of the cast and crew should be proud. #Eclipsed #EclipsedPlay
— hellresidentNY (@hellresidentNY) November 6, 2015
@DanaiGurira I have no idea how you created something so tragic, funny and hopeful but you did and it was beautiful to behold. #Eclipsed
— Tamar Bains (@Bainst06) November 1, 2015
4c Hair Chick crew, don’t miss out. Tickets for the Broadway run of “ECLIPSED” are on sale now. And these tweets reinforce what we’ve already shared. Danai Gurira’s Broadway debut is a must-see! If you’re tired of the entertainment world adapting our stories and refusing to cast us in roles outside America’s black archetype, support this play.
“The stories about Africans always somehow miraculously had a Western protagonist. And I was, like, wow, do we not merit our own ability to tell our own stories?”
Gurira said in an interview with PBS.
“My hypothesis is, people in the West can absorb African women stories without any shaken or stirred mixer. It can come directly from the source.”
Perfect stated.
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Will you be adding “ECLIPSED” to your 2016 planner? Let us know in the comment section below.
Links:
- http://eclipsedbroadway.com/
- http://www.broadway.com/shows/eclipsed/
- http://www.tenthousandgirls.com/
- https://www.instagram.com/eclipsedbway/
Video:
4chairchick says
February 20, 2016 at 10:32 pmtest
TeenNaturalistaUnite says
April 14, 2016 at 4:29 amLove this! Thanks so much for posting this inspiration!
Jojo - AgedneverOld says
May 11, 2016 at 8:02 pmI saw this. Such a great show. It was indeed an African story told by African women.