Categories: Articles, Audrey Bernard,
The Whoopi Monologues” is causing quite a buzz Off-Broadway! The reimagining of Whoopi Goldberg’s iconic show at Lincoln Center Theater’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 W. 65th Street, NYC) is playing to sold-out audiences. Just imagine five strong Black women portraying their version of this powerful EGOT winner in their truth. Phenomenally played to perfection with all of the Whoopi-isms on point. “The Whoopi Monologues” are as tantalizing today as they were 40 years ago, and Whoopi is just as fresh and omnipresent! This is a must-see, five-star production. It’s the bomb!
Written by Whoopi Goldberg and brilliantly directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Whitney White, “The Whoopi Monologues” stars Emmy Award Nominee Dominique Fishback (“Swarm,” “The Deuce”), Tony Award winner Kecia Lewis (Hell’s Kitchen), NAACP Image Award Winner Danielle Pinnock (“Ghosts”), Emmy Award-winning producer and Golden Globe-nominated actress Kerry Washington (“Imperfect Women,” American Son), and two-time Tony Award winner Kara Young (Purlie Victorious, Purpose), with Kai Heath, Denise Manning, and Pavar Snipe rounding out the cast as understudies.
In 1984, a then-unknown Whoopi Goldberg burst onto the theatrical scene with her self-titled solo show at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre. Instead of traditional stand-up comedy, she used monologues to portray a series of vivid, deeply human, and often eccentric characters. These included a little girl who imagines herself with long blond hair, a disabled Vietnam veteran, and a young woman dealing with illegal immigration. The groundbreaking performance earned her the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance and the 1986 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.
Fast forward to 2026 when five dauntlessly talented Black women bring Goldberg’s unforgettable characters back to the stage for a whole new generation. Conceived by Kerry Washington, this new adaptation, directed by Whitney White, disperses the characters among an ensemble cast. It features different women sharing the stage to embody Goldberg’s original storytelling, celebrating the EGOT winner’s legacy by reflecting a broader spectrum of communities.
The creative team for “The Whoopi Monologues” includes Studio Bent: Adam Rigg & Anton Volovsek (Set Design), Tony Award winner Qween Jean (Costume Design), Cha See (Lighting Design), Fan Zhang (Original Music and Sound Design), Hana S. Kim (Video Design), Nikiya Mathis (Hair & Wig Design), and The Telsey Office (Casting). Tiffany N. Robinson serves as the Stage Manager. The Whoopi Monologues is produced in partnership with Whoop, Inc./Tom Leonardis and Simpson Street The limited run at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center in New York runs through August 30, 2026. (Photos courtesy LCT) Tickets are currently on sale at LCT.org.
