Tuesday , March 19 2024
Lupita Nyong'o has already garnered many awards, and the Sardi's caricature (she is impossible to caricature, she is so lovely) is a fun tribute to a very fine actress of whom we will be seeing more.

Lupita Nyong’o, Starring in ‘Eclipsed’ on Broadway, Celebrated at Sardi’s

Lupita Nyong'o, Max Klimavicius, Sardi's, Eclipsed
Lupita Nyong’o  joins Sardi’s wall of fame. Pictured with Max Klimavicius. Photo by Carole Di Tosti

If you saw Lupita Nyong’o’s  Oscar-winning performance as Patsey in Steve McQueen’s historical drama Twelve Years A Slave, you will not be surprised to learn that the Kenyan-Mexican actress has a Master’s Degree from the Yale School of Drama.

She wrote, produced and directed a documentary entitled In My Genes, an incredible film about what it is like to live as an albino surrounded by individuals who are darker skinned. The documentary’s revelations create empathy for those who suffer discrimination simply because of a genetic anomaly.

This year I had the opportunity to see Lupita in the Public Theater’s production of Eclipsed, which opened in October 2015.

Lupita Nyong'o, Sardi's, Eclipsed
Lupita Nyong’o of ‘Eclipsed’ signing her caricature at Sardi’s event. Photo by Carole Di Tosti

When I saw it then, I thought that the magnificent and powerful production written by Danai Gurira would most probably be picked up and move to Broadway and larger audiences.

I was right. Eclipsed opened on Broadway to stellar reviews and Tony Award nominations (among other nominations) for the 2016 season. It will continue to pull in accolades. It is that phenomenal.

Part of the reason is its riveting subject matter. The setting is Liberia in 2003, during the Second Liberian Civil War. Unfortunately, in our collective unconscious, war has become something with which we are all too familiar.

Another important fact about this production is that it is the first play with an all-black and all-female creative cast and team to premiere on Broadway, something which was not conceived of 10 years ago.

Lupita Nyong'o, Eclipsed, Eclipsed cast, Sardi's celebrity wall of fame
Lupita and the ‘Eclipsed’ cast and playwright join in the fun. Photo, Carole Di Tosti

Revolutions are happening in the entertainment industry, especially in theater, which has trumped the “old boy network” that still haunts the film industry and is proving to be a tremendous liability. Women are joining to establish their own power groups to make up for the unequal representation of women in film.

Finally, the play has earned so many nominations and awards because the acting is powerful and dynamic. The issues the actors nightly bring out front and center impact every one of us whether we like to admit it or not.

The cast, director, and writer of Eclipsed came out to support Nyong’o’s being honored with a caricature at Sardi’s restaurant on May 19, 2016. It is the Great White Way’s prestigious if informal recognition that she has arrived and been embraced by the Broadway community.

Lupita Nyong’o has already garnered many awards, and the caricature (she is impossible to caricature, she is so lovely) is a fun tribute to a very fine actress of whom we will be seeing more.

About Carole Di Tosti

Carole Di Tosti, Ph.D. is a published writer, playwright, novelist, poet. She owns and manages three well-established blogs: 'The Fat and the Skinny,' 'All Along the NYC Skyline' (https://caroleditosti.com/) 'A Christian Apologists' Sonnets.' She also manages the newly established 'Carole Di Tosti's Linchpin,' which is devoted to foreign theater reviews and guest reviews. She contributed articles to Technorati (310) on various trending topics from 2011-2013. To Blogcritics she has contributed 583+ reviews, interviews on films and theater predominately. Carole Di Tosti also has reviewed NYBG exhibits and wine events. She guest writes for 'Theater Pizzazz' and has contributed to 'T2Chronicles,' 'NY Theatre Wire' and other online publications. She covers NYC trending events and writes articles promoting advocacy. She professionally free-lanced for TMR and VERVE for 1 1/2 years. She was a former English Instructor. Her published dissertation is referenced in three books, two by Margo Ely, Ph.D. Her novel 'Peregrine: The Ceremony of Powers' will be on sale in January 2021. Her full length plays, 'Edgar,' 'The Painter on His Way to Work,' and 'Pandemics or How Maria Caught Her Vibe' are being submitted for representation and production.

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