Whoopi Talks SCOTTSBORO, Protests on THE VIEW

On the Monday, November 15, 2010 episode of the ABC show, THE VIEW, host Whoopi Goldberg talked about THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS. Here's what she said...

Whoopi: I want to tell you about - it knocked me out. I can't tell you to go see this enough, because there's been a lot of protests all over New York against this show - a show that people have not seen. The people who are protesting this show, 90% of the people have not seen it.

Why do I understand this? Because this is the same crap that they pulled with The Color Purple.

So, listen to me. There is an amazing show called THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS. It's at the Lyceum Theater in New York with music and lyrics by Kander and Ebb, the same people that brought you Cabaret. The choreography is amazing, it's by Susan Stroman.

Let me put it just very succinctly. Do you remember Cabaret and how surprised you were when you saw things that were happening pre-Hitler, but as you saw the buildup... This takes an American piece of history that many of us have forgotten about and it's a very dark piece of history and they have put it in the minstrel show.

And, when I tell you that you have never seen anything this innovative - baby, go, run - do not walk to go see it.

Joy: What's the protests about? I saw it, it's great, I loved it too.

Whoopi: People are protesting saying that it shouldn't be in a minstrel show, this is too serious. What people don't understand is that you have to bring information to people in an most-invigorating way.

Whoopi: This is probably the best show I've seen in 10 years.

Joy: It's very good. 

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS is the thrilling final collaboration by musical theatre giants John Kanderand Fred Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret). Based on the notorious "Scottsboro" case in the 1930s (in which nine African-American men were unjustly accused of a terrible crime) this daring and wildly entertaining musical explores a fascinating chapter in American history with brilliant originality. This critically-acclaimed production, directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winnerSusan Stroman (The Producers) and featuring a book by David Thompson (who adapted the script for Chicago's record-breaking revival), comes to Broadway following a sold-out run at theVineyard Theatre.