BROADWAY CASTING
ANNOUNCED FOR
“ECLIPSED”
STARRING
ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER
LUPITA NYONG’O
THE COMPLETE ORIGINAL CAST
FROM THE ACCLAIMED RUN AT
THE PUBLIC THEATER
WILL REUNITE ON BROADWAY
New York, NY (November 30, 2015) – It was announced today that the complete original cast from The Public Theater’s acclaimed, sold-out production of the new American play Eclipsed by Danai Gurira will reprise their roles on Broadway this Spring. Academy Award® winner Lupita Nyong’o will be once again joined by Pascale Armand, Akosua Busia, Zainab Jah and Saycon Sengbloh. Eclipsed, directed by Liesl Tommy, will begin previews on Tuesday, February 23, 2016, with opening night set for March 6, 2016 on Broadway at the Golden Theatre (252 W. 45th Street). For tickets and information, please visit www.EclipsedBroadway.com .
Eclipsed marks a historic moment on Broadway: the first time the cast, director, and playwright are composed entirely of female artists, fitting for a production that so stunningly chronicles the experiences of a group of very resilient women.
Eclipsed just ended its sold out engagement at The Public Theater yesterday, Sunday November 29, after having been twice-extended during its celebrated run. The production marks the fastest-selling new play in recent Public history, with a bevy of starry audience members in attendance over the course of the run including luminaries Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington, Stevie Wonder, Spike Lee, Sally Field, Chris Rock, Alfre Woodard, Harry Belafonte, and Common, among many others.
On the heels of her Academy Award-winning, breakout performance in 12 Years a Slave, Lupita Nyong’o stunned critics and audiences in the Public Theater's sold-out hit Eclipsed—the “scorching and powerful” (The Guardian) new play by Zimbabwean-American playwright and actress Danai Gurira (star of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and co-author of In the Continuum). Now, the global star makes her Broadway debut in this “must-see” (NBC New York) production written, directed and performed entirely by female artists.
Eclipsed is the story of five extraordinary women brought together by upheaval in their homeland of Liberia. They forge a close-knit community... one that inspires them to feats of increasingly greater strength. Directed by South African-born Liesl Tommy (The Good Negro, Appropriate), Eclipsed is a stirring tale of hope, humor and resilience—and the only new play by a woman on Broadway this season.
Eclipsed is produced on Broadway by Stephen Byrd, Alia Jones-Harvey, Paula Marie Black, Carole Shorenstein Hays, Kenny Ozoude, Willette Klausner, Michael Magers and The Public Theater.
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“Shattering. A riveting, superbly acted production with terrific roles for five women. Lupita Nyong’o’s tremendously accomplished performance cuts to the bone. The superlative performances from all five actors, under Liesl Tommy’s sensitive direction, draws us deeply into the lives of the women. Danai Gurira’s Eclipsed flickers with glimmers of light, humanity and hope.”
(Charles Isherwood, New York Times)
“Mesmerizing and unmissable.”
(Jesse Green, New York Magazine)
“A searing drama superbly directed by Liesl Tommy and powerfully acted by a strong ensemble led by Oscar-winning Lupita Nyong’o.”
(Marilyn Stasio, Variety)
“Eclipsed pulls us into and holds us captive in a vivid world rendered with unflinching honesty, delicate poignancy and surprising humor.”
(David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter)
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CAST BIOGRAPHIES
Lupita Nyong’o will next be seen in J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as “Maz Kanata.” She recently wrapped production on Mira Nair’s The Queen of Katwe, and lends her voice to Jon Favreau’s upcoming Jungle Book as “Raksha.” Her feature debut in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave earned her an Academy Award, SAG Award and Spirit Award. She graduated from the Yale School of Drama and her stage credits include The Winter's Tale (Yale Rep.), Uncle Vanya, The Taming of the Shrew, Michael Mitnick's Elijah.
Pascale Armand Third production of Eclipsed under Liesl Tommy's direction, previously at The McCarter Theater and Yale Repertory Theater. Broadway - The Trip to Bountiful with Ms. Cicely Tyson. Off-Broadway - "Dido" in An Octoroon by Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins (TFANA), "Amina" in Belleville by Amy Herzog (NYTW), "Abigayle" in Four by Christopher Shinn (MTC) and "Jupiter" in Breath, Boom (Playwrights Horizons) by Kia Corthron. Regional - A Raisin in the Sun, Blues for an Alabama Sky, The Piano Lesson, Jitney, Pericles, Hamlet, As You Like It, Gem of the Ocean, Doubt, Ruined, amongst others. International: For An End to the Judgment of God with Peter Sellars in Vienna, London, Zurich, Brussels and Rome. Originated the lead role in Danai Gurira's The Convert. Television: “The Blacklist”, “American Odyssey”, “Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”. 2012 LA Ovation Award winner for Lead Actress in The Convert, amidst other regional theatrical awards. Recurring role in upcoming web series “Heirloom”. Alumna of NYU's Tisch Graduate Acting Program. Core member of Quick Silver Theater Company. www.quicksilvertheater.com. www.pascalearmand.com
Akosua Busia was born into the Yefri Royal House of Wenchi in Ghana, West Africa. She is the youngest daughter of former Frist Lady, Mrs. Naa Morkor Busia and the Honorable Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, former Prime Minister of Ghana. AS ACTRESS: Akosua is perhaps best known for her portrayal of “Nettie” in the The Color Purple, directed by Steven Spielberg. Broadway roles include “Daisy”, in Mule Bone and “Tanya”, in The Talented Tenth. Busia starred on London’s West End as “Edna” in Gloo Joo, (winner of the Evening Standard Award). “Veronica” in Athol Fugard’s Valley Song (La Jolla Playhouse), “Annetta” in EDEN (LA Theater Center), “Juliet” in Romeo and Juliet (Klaxon Theater Oxford). “Puppet” in the French film Saxo. “Patience”, in Tears of the Sun. “Bessie” in Native Son. “Brenda” in Babies Having Babies (Youth in Film Award). AS SCREENWRITER, Busia penned the film adaptation of Toni Morrison’s novel “BELOVED”, directed by Jonathan Demme: AS AUTHOR, Busia's novel, “The Seasons of Beento Blackbird” was a best-selling “Book of The Month and Quality Paperback Book Club selection”: AS LYRICIST Busia penned “Moon Blue” sung by Stevie Wonder. AS DIRECTOR Busia’s docufilm THE PROF: A Man Remembered, was screened at The Houses of Parliament in London. Raised on four continents, Busia received her BA (Hons) from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, in London. Busia is a Recipient of the “Women in Film International Award”.
Zainab Jah’s recent credits include: title role of Hamlet (The Wilma Theatre), Antony & Cleopatra, Romeo N Juliet, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (Atlantic Theater, NYC), Titania/Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Prudence in The Convert, Josephine in Ruined, A Doll’s House (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Eclipsed, Helen of Troy in Trojan Women (Classical Theatre of Harlem), In Darfur (The Public Theatre/NYSF), Peter Sellars’ Children Of Herakles (European Tour). Film / TV credits: “Law & Order SVU”, Outliving Emily (with Andre Braugher and Philicia Rashad), Along Came Love. Awards: Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award, Best Featured Actress (The Convert); San Francisco Bay Area Critics’ Circle, Oustanding Performance, Female Featured Role (Ruined); and Best Featured Actress, Philadelphia Critics’ Awards (The Convert).
Saycon Sengbloh joins the Broadway run of Eclipsed after generating rave reviews during the off-Broadway production at The Public Theater. She recently filmed a lead role in the upcoming feature film, Double Play. Earlier this year, she originated roles in Marley at Centerstage Theater (Baltimore) and Staggerlee at the Dallas Theatre Center. Her Broadway credits include Holler if Ya Hear Me; Motown the Musical; Fela!; and Hair. Off-Broadway she was seen in Once On This Island and Hurt Village. She has been seen in the films Finding Fela; American Gangster; Across the Universe and on television in “Funny Valentines”; “The Good Wife”; “Law & Order” and the upcoming HBO series “Criminal Justice” (also known as “Crime”).