eclipsed is making broadway history

set in liberia during the country’s civil war, eclipsed surrounds the lives of four women who’ve been abducted to serve as a warlord’s wives. not only was the play written by a black woman, danai gurira, but the cast is comprised of all black women — the first time in broadway history. unlike typical war stories, eclipsed focuses on humanizing the characters outside of their abductions and enslavement. number one is compassionate, number two is hilarious, number three is fierce and number four is lost. then there’s the elder from a peace organization who forces them to wrestle with their pasts by simply asking “what is your name? what is the name your mother gave you?”

starring lupita n’yongo, among an outstanding cast, eclipsed is on broadway through june. check out why danai gurira decided to write a complex story about african women on pbs newshour.