Karen Olivo Will Not Return to MOULIN ROUGE!- 'I Want a Theatre Industry That Matches My Integrity'

Karen Olivo, a 2020/21 Tony nominee for her performance in Moulin Rouge!, has just announced via Instagram that she will not return to the show when it reopens on Broadway.

"Social justice is more important than being the sparkling diamond," she said. "Building a better industry is more important than putting money in my pockets. The silence about Scott Rudin... unacceptable."

They continue: "I don't need to be onstage. I need to be out here. People are more important than your pocketbook... I want a theatre industry that matches my integrity. Come on, ya'll. It's not here, obviously. Let's go make it."

The producers of Moulin Rouge! The Musical have responded: "We can confirm that Karen Olivo will not return to the production when the show resumes performances on Broadway. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is forever indebted to Karen Olivo's artistry, passion, and craft in creating the role of Satine on stage. We applaud and support Karen's advocacy work to create a safe, diverse, and equitable theater industry for all. Karen has been an indelible influence on our show from its beginning, and words cannot properly express our gratitude. We wish Karen great success, and above all, love."

Watch the full video.

Karen Olivo is a television, film, and stage actor who is most recognized for her Tony Award-winning performance as Anita in the acclaimed 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story, a role for which they also earned Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Astaire Award nominations.

Some of their Broadway theater credits include originating the role of Vanessa in the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights (2008 Astaire Award) and starring as Faith in the Broadway production of Brooklyn The Musical. She played the role of Angelica Schuyler in the Chicago production of Hamilton and currently stars as Satine in Moulin Rouge on broadway. Additional theatre credits include Murder Ballad at the Manhattan Theater Club, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark by Lynn Nottage at 2nd Stage, and The Miracle Brothers directed by Tina Landau at the Vineyard Theatre. Olivo is also recognized for her many television appearances including recurring & guest-starring roles on "The Good Wife," "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior," "Chase," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Conviction," and "Law & Order."

Karen Olivo is a native New Yorker who currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Olivo recently taught Musical Theater Styles at UW-Madison as well as working as a teaching artist and writer for Theatre LILA, they serve on the Advisory Committee for Forward Theater and also coaches students in her private Madison studio. Karen also released her first solo album, 'Leave,' in 2017.

Olivo, along with Eden Espinosa, is a co-founder of Artists for Economic Transparency (AFECT). https://www.afectchange.org