How Kerry Washington and Whitney White Are Honoring Whoopi Goldberg Through Theater
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Kerry Washington, inspired by Whoopi Goldberg's 1985 HBO special "Whoopi Goldberg: Direct From Broadway," credits Goldberg with changing her understanding of acting as a child.
- Whoopi Goldberg's breakthrough came with her 1984 one-woman Broadway show, directed by Mike Nichols, who was deeply impressed by her unique performance.
- The original show featured Goldberg playing six different characters and was later filmed for HBO, cementing her cultural impact.
- The show has been revived as "The Whoopi Monologues," directed by Whitney White and starring Kerry Washington alongside other actresses, adapting material from the original Broadway production and subsequent specials.
- This revival reintroduces Goldberg's influential characters to contemporary audiences, highlighting her lasting legacy in theater and performance.
