Lupita Nyong’o sat down with TODAY Show’s Savannah Guthrie recently to talk about her Broadway debut in Danai Gurira’s acclaimed, Eclipsed, diversity and #OscarsSoWhite. Her composure was elegant and her smile was beaming as she talked us through understudying “The Girl” in the Yale Repertory production, and playing the same role during a sold-out run at The Public. She promised herself that she had to play “The Girl,” and now she’s reprising her role on the intimate Broadway stage at The John Golden Theatre.
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.”
