“I did this show [Suffs] before Kamala Harris was running for President and I did the show the day President Biden endorsed her and I am telling you it feels different. What is happening outside, whether it’s globally or locally, it changes how you perform, how you hear and how you see live theatre. That’s why it’s exciting…a Black woman, a woman of color is going to be running for the highest office in the land against a person…who is the antithesis of everything she represents and we are going to have the conversation.”
This week we welcome Tony winner Nikki M. James! We discuss the beautiful breadth of Black women she has played in her career—from The Book of Mormon’s Nabulungi (which earned her a 2011 Tony Award) to The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin’s Viveca to real-life investigative journalist Ida B. Wells in Suffs, her current role that earned her a 2024 Tony nomination. It feels like we only scratch the surface of James’ long and varied career, but we dive deep into what she's learned from these characters and examine how the political landscape impacted their resonance with audiences.
Recommendation: Vibe Check podcast
Shout out: Anastacia McCleskey
Follow Nikki on Instagram.
Read Felicia's Broadway Direct interview with Nikki here.
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