Photo credit: www.broadwayworld.com

LaTanya Richardson Jackson Discusses New Play ‘Purpose’ on The View

LaTanya Richardson Jackson was a guest on The View on Thursday, where she shared insights about her role in the new play Purpose, currently being showcased at the Hayes Theatre. During the interview, she praised the show’s playwright, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, who was honored with a Tony Award last year for his work on Appropriate. “He is an extraordinary writer, and collaborating with him is a significant milestone in anyone’s career,” Jackson remarked.

In addition, Jackson reflected on her collaboration with director Phylicia Rashad, a relationship that dates back to the beginning of Rashad’s career. “Women share a unique connection. There’s an innate understanding that allows us to resonate with one another immediately,” she elaborated.

Recently, Jackson celebrated another milestone with the unveiling of her official portrait at Sardi’s, marking her extensive career on the New York theater scene. Inscribed on the portrait were the words “God’s purpose,” signifying her belief that divine intervention has allowed her, at the age of 75, to continue memorizing lines and performing in eight shows each week. “It’s purely a God thing… he supports me through all that dialogue!” Jackson expressed.

To view photos from the Sardi’s ceremony, click here, and to see the complete interview where she recounts meeting her husband Samuel L. Jackson during their college days over 50 years ago, watch here.

Jackson is a distinguished two-time Tony Award nominee, recognized for her work as an actress, director, and producer on both stage and screen. Her notable Broadway performances include the role of “Lena Younger” in the 2014 revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun (which earned her a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Play), “Calpurnia” in Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird, and “Bertha Holly” in the 2009 revival of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. Currently, she plays the character “Claudine Jasper” in the Broadway production Purpose.

Purpose delves into the intricacies of the influential Jasper family, who have played a significant role in Black American politics as civil rights advocates, religious leaders, and politicians. However, beneath their esteemed exterior, familial tensions and hidden truths emerge. The return of the youngest son, Nazareth, along with an unexpected companion, triggers a confrontation with past legacies, faith, and the responsibilities tied to their heritage of political influence.

Source
www.broadwayworld.com