May 2004

Tonya Pinkins A BROADWAY ACTRESS PUSHES LIMITS IN LIFE AND ART - AND TEACHES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME "I do something gutsy every day," says Tonya Pinkins, the actress who plays the title role in Tony Kushner's new Broadway musical, "Caroline, or Change." If you think she's exaggerating, go see her daring portrayal of Caroline, a long-suffering maid living down South in the 1960s. Pinkins, who won a Tony in 1992 for her turn in "Jelly's Last Jam," does the unthinkable, at least in the world of musical theater: She doesn't try to be liked. "This character could not be sweet or likable or funny," she says. "She's raw."

As nervy as her performance is, it doesn't compare to Pinkins's boldness outside the theater. A mother of four, she returned to school at 34 and received her degree from Columbia College Chicago in two semesters. She also represented herself in a custody battle with her first husband and fought?successfully?to have the judge removed because of his bias against women. Pinkins could teach a class on gutsiness, and in fact, she does. For the past year, she has run a workshop called the Actorpreneur Attitude Transformational that helps performers learn what she calls, "the psychology of success and how to let go of insecurity." She says the biggest problem actors have is that they don't know how to receive. "But if you can't take a compliment," she asks, "how are you going to [accept] an Oscar??"

On CAROLINE, OR CHANGE which opened at The PublicTheater

"Played with commanding self-containment Tonya Pinkins has never been better than she is here in an intense controlled performance that somehow always hints at the currents of rage and helplessness beneath Caroline's rigid Dignity."
Ben Brantley NY Times December 1, 2003

"Caroline is given radiant life by Tonya Pinkins whose raw, powerful singing voice is matched by an ability to convey warmth, anger and regret with shattering conviction."
Elyssa Gardner USA Today December 2, 2003

"An electrifying rendition."
John Lahr The New Yorker December 3-9 2003

"Tonya Pinkins- in a monumental, powerfully grave performance."
Adam Feldman Time Out New York December 4-11 2003

"Pinkins' breathtaking performance may be the musical highlight of the year."
Jacques LeSourd Journal News Dec 2, 2003

"The perfect union of character, story and song galvanized by Pinkins? fierce portrayal of a woman beaten down by change and circumstance nothing equals Pinkins haunting display of emotion.
Michael Kuchiwara AP Critic December 1, 2003

"She is magnificently enacted by Tonya Pinkins"
Donald Lyons New York Post December 1, 2003

"Caroline played with magnificent gravity and wary self-sufficiency by Tonya Pinkins"
Linda Winer Newsday December 1, 2003

"As Caroline, Tonya Pinkins? tonally rich voice and sorrowful strength is indomitable"
Brenden Lemon Financial Times UK

"A truly outstanding performance by Tonya Pinkins in the powerful title role"
Charles Isherwood Dailey Variety Dec 3, 2003

"Pinkins Breathtaking performance may be the musical highlight of the year"
Jacques LeSourd Journal News December 2, 2003

"As Caroline Tonya Pinkins rich voice and sorrowful strength is indomitable"
Brendan Lemon Financial Times UK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TONYA PINKINS
Transcending a Stereotype
Tonya Award Winner Tonya Pinkins
Portrays Negro Main in CAROLINE OR CHANGE

Tonya Pinkins, star of Broadway and daytime TV will is starring in the title role of Pulitzer Prize Winner, Tony Kushner's eagerly awaited musical composed with Tonya Award Winner Jenine Tesori of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and directed by Tony Winner George C. Wolfe

Tonya says this is the most exciting show of her career and even though she did not meet Kushner until she began workshopping the show in 2000, she feels like it was written for her. "Caroline is a thirty nine year old single mother of four and so am I"

" I remember when they were casting for the maid in the series I'LL FLY AWAY and they refused to let me audition because the casting director said if I was playing the maid the audience would be wondering when Sam Wanamaker was going to sleep with her. Caroline is quite a stretch from the sensuous siren roles she is known for in her Tony Winner performnce in JELLY'S LAST JAM, Tony nominated performance in PLAY ON and her performance in THE WILD PARTY.

" Last fall I got a message about MAN OF LAMANCHA. I was all excited about the role of Aldonza, but when I spoke to the casting director they offered me the role of the housekeeper. I declined because I knew I had my own housekeeper show in CAROLINE.

Asked if she had any trepidations about playing a role which has such a tainted history in American culture, she said " NO, Tonya and Jenine have done for the Negro maid what Arthur Miller did for the salesman in DEATH OF A SALESMAN. I am honored to have the opportunity to play this archetypal character who is the axis on which American society is built."