Posted: 1/9/16 at 6:49pm
I'm sure she gladly takes those checks.
Posted: 1/9/16 at 6:55pm
And she can always go back on welfare when the acting checks dry up
Posted: 1/9/16 at 7:27pm
Every statement she makes makes it seem that she has a lot of trouble separating the stage from reality.
Updated On: 1/9/16 at 07:27 PM
Posted: 1/9/16 at 7:29pm
I love Tonya but she shouldn't have made a further statement. I fear this will not bode well for her :/
Posted: 1/9/16 at 8:33pm
Potts states that I, "...insisted on being called 'Momma..." which he spells like the disrespectful 'Yo Momma.' I asked to be respectfully called 'Mama' as in Mama Nadi in RUINED. A term of respect for women of a certain age in the Congo.
Wait - is this a thing now? People can asked to be called whatever they want at work? Yippy skippy - Monday morn-ting, I will be Kitty Softpaws.
Posted: 1/9/16 at 8:49pm
I thought she was asking to be called Mama Courage instead of Mother Courage. No need to invent more crazy when she's already giving it in abundance.
Posted: 1/9/16 at 8:49pm
Oh no. Here comes PhyllisRogersStoneStalkedMe.Com
I'd love to know how the very notion of the disrespectful spelling came up, but then again, I really don't.
Now I kinda wanna change my screen name to DisrespectfulMomma.
Updated On: 1/9/16 at 08:49 PM
Posted: 1/9/16 at 9:06pm
Oh, Tonya. I love your work enormously but you just need to STFU. It's the whole LaJolla THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and Broadway transfer ordeal of CAROLINE OR CHANGE crap again. Is there ANY production you get involved with that'll agree with you?
Geez, Louise. You sho' iz crazeeee, gurl!
Posted: 1/9/16 at 9:12pm
For true insight read Jesse Greene's New York Times article The Trials of Tonya Pinkens May 2004
you will be astonished
it informs all of this kushner,J Tesori, G Wolfe provide insight. GW had a rocky early relationship with TP and fired her and rehired her on Jelly's Last Jam.
TP self describes as Insane at times.
Not to be missed
TP even conducted workshops for industry iPod to share her sect based aggressive philosophies.
J Greene's article clarifies many issues.
Updated On: 1/9/16 at 09:12 PM
Posted: 1/9/16 at 9:15pm
I'm surprised this is new to folks. That's what I've been alluding to this whole time but really, for ME, it's all about the WORK.
Posted: 1/9/16 at 9:22pm
Here is that Jesse Greene article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/02/theater/theater-the-trials-of-tonya-pinkins.html?_r=0
Posted: 1/9/16 at 9:48pm
For the rest of my life, if I think I am being insulted, I am going to ask the insulter how they spelled the word that offended me.
Posted: 1/9/16 at 9:49pm
I hadn't heard the Caroline stories, but I had heard other things over the last few years and I just assumed she was a diva.
I agree it's about the work, but in this instance, it prevented the work from occurring- and it seems like it's been a struggle for a while to allow the work to occur.
Posted: 1/9/16 at 10:11pm
The racist and sexist language she used is simply disgusting and appalling. I think severe mental health issues are at play here. I don't think anyone would ever hire her again.
Posted: 1/9/16 at 10:25pm
I don't think she was ever racist or sexist. I'm going to take the banal route and say that I wasn't in the rehearsal room, so I can't judge. The only thing I will say about her second statement is that I don't think the bitchiness towards Potts was at all warranted. I certainly don't think she's insane, though. If you read the Greene article she says that at times she was driven insane by her divorce proceedings and the custody drama. I think that could be said of everyone at some point in their lives, right?
In Youtube videos from the Caroline rehearsal room I am repeatedly struck by how articulate and strong she seems. Maybe these statements are those qualities run amok. Either way, anyone who can perform Lot's Wife like that doesn't have to do another thing in their career, as far as I'm concerned.
Posted: 1/9/16 at 10:34pm
BrodyFosse123 said: "It's the whole LaJolla THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and Broadway transfer ordeal of CAROLINE OR CHANGE crap again. Is there ANY production you get involved with that'll agree with you?"
There's so much to comment on with this ordeal, and I'm going to refrain from writing any of it, but I do have to ask: what happened with the transfer of Caroline or Change?
Posted: 1/9/16 at 11:03pm
She wanted more money. I think something like 15k a week.
Posted: 1/9/16 at 11:12pm
She clearly has very strong principles. But they may get in the way of further employment.
Posted: 1/9/16 at 11:45pm
15k for Caroline isn't totally absurd, considering Ceveris is getting 10k for a very less demanding part in Fun Home, but that's after it became a hit. She should have worked for scale until the Tonys, etc. But she totally should have won that Tony. She might be crazy but she can turn it out. I saw her at 54 Below and we were a hoping for a Lots Wife but instead she did some super arty cabaret piece that was incredibly boring.
Posted: 1/10/16 at 12:21am
GlindatheGood22 said: "Either way, anyone who can perform Lot's Wife like that doesn't have to do another thing in their career, as far as I'm concerned."
Not another thing? So she should live off the royalties of your memories of that performance, or...? Actors have bills to pay too.
Posted: 1/10/16 at 12:04pm
Ljay~thanks for posting the Jesse Green link that I mentioned. I had difficulty.
Reading that article clarifies so many issues, beliefs, attitudes and experiences that relate to this topic.
Posted: 1/10/16 at 12:53pm
I think Ms Pinkins is a product of our culture and power structure. I don't think anyone would argue that women with strong opinions make a lot of people uncomfortable. Some on this bored want to ignore history and act like women of color have an equal voice in the arts. It's really not the case. We can see that from what gets produced and who produces it and who directs it. The woman of color has the least representation or prospective out there. I just believe Pinkins is saying something a lot of people have wanted to say but don't out of fear of being labeled difficult or "playing the race card" or "gender card". Really read between the lines and think about what she is really saying. It's unfortunate a specific situation like this has to be the reason the conversation has to be had but if it helps make some people see the problem of the lack of voice for women artist in an industry than so be it. Please don't tell her to be quiet and not tell her experiences, that's the problem in the first place. Her point of view and experiences matter.
Posted: 1/10/16 at 12:57pm
I wonder if she ever wishes she finished law school.
Posted: 1/10/16 at 5:55pm
No amount of change is ever going to be enough for Pinkins.
