VIDEO: ECLIPSED Playwright Danai Gurira On Writing Stories For Women And Girls of African Descent

Despite a highly acclaimed Off-Broadway premiere at The Public Theater with an Oscar-winning star in its central role, Danai Gurira's ECLIPSED is not the kind of play that normally comes to Broadway. Set in war-torn Liberia of 2003, it's a story of the different ways a group of vividly drawn women deal with the institutionalized rape they experience from both sides. It's something rare for Broadway; a story about African women written by an African woman.

"I want women and girls of African descent and of color to be able to not have to keep searching for stories about themselves," says Gurira, who was raised in Zimbabwe.

When she came to America, where she's best known for her acting role as Michonne on AMC's THE WALKING DEAD, she was struck by the point of view by which stories of people of her heritage were told.

"The stories about Africans always somehow miraculously had a western protagonist and I was like, 'Wow, do we not merit our own ability to tell our own stories?'"

In the PBS video, Gurira discusses the importance of having many diverse voices heard.

The complete original cast from The Public Theater's acclaimed, sold-out production of ECLIPSED are reprising their roles on Broadway in a production that is now in previews. Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o is once again joined by Pascale Armand, Akosua Busia, Zainab Jahand and Saycon Sengbloh. Directed by Liesl Tommy, opening night set for March 6, 2016 on Broadway at the Golden Theatre (252 W. 45th Street).

ECLIPSED marks a historic moment on Broadway: the first time the cast, director, and playwright are composed entirely of female artists, fitting for a production that so stunningly chronicles the experiences of a group of very resilient women.

ECLIPSED originally played a sold-out engagement at The Public Theater, which closed on November 29 after having been twice-extended during its celebrated run. The production marks the fastest-selling new play in recent Public history, with a bevy of starry audience members in attendance over the course of the run including luminaries Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington, Stevie Wonder, Spike Lee, Sally Field, Chris Rock, Alfre Woodard, Harry Belafonte, and Common, among many others.

ECLIPSED is the story of five extraordinary women brought together by upheaval in their homeland of Liberia. They forge a close-knit community... one that inspires them to feats of increasingly greater strength. Directed by South African-born Liesl Tommy (The Good Negro, Appropriate), ECLIPSED is a stirring tale of hope, humor and resilience-and the only new play by a woman on Broadway this season.

ECLIPSED is produced on Broadway by Stephen Byrd, Alia Jones-Harvey, Paula Marie Black, Carole Shorenstein Hays, Kenny Ozoude, Willette Klausner, Michael Magers and The Public Theater.