Seyi Omooba

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld March 7, 2024

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is March 7, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Seyi Omooba Loses Appeal Over Being Fired from THE COLOR PURPLE for 'Religious Discrimination'

There is at last a conclusion to an ongoing court battle between Seyi Omooba and Michael Garrett Associates Ltd/ Leicester Theatre Trust Ltd. The former lost a case against the latter in 2021, when she took legal action against Curve after being dismissed from a production of The Color Purple for posts on social media that were deemed homophobic.

Wake Up With BWW 3/31: DIANA Announces Broadway Return Date, and More!

Today's top stories: Diana sets its Broadway return date, nominations for the Drama League Awards, a Game of Thrones stage play is being developed for Broadway, and more!

Seyi Omooba Ordered to Pay Over £300,000 Following Legal Action Against Curve Leicester For Removal From THE COLOR PURPLE

Curve Leicester has announced that Seyi Omooba is being ordered by the Employment Tribune to repay the costs incurred after legal action was taken against the Curve.

Seyi Omooba's Claims of Religious Discrimination Rejected After Removal From THE COLOR PURPLE

Leicester Curve has released an official statement, revealing that Seyi Omooba's claims of religious discrimination were rejected by an employment tribunal. Omooba took legal action against Curve after being dismissed from a production of The Color Purple for posts on social media that were deemed homophobic.

BWW Interview: Tinuke Craig Chats THE COLOR PURPLE - AT HOME From Leicester Curve Online

Since 2019, the fast-rising director Tinuke Craig has fielded various iterations of her first-ever musical, The Color Purple, which was acclaimed in performance at Leicester's Curve Theatre and the Birmingham Hippodrome. That same show is returning this month for a streamed concert version starring T'Shan Williams as Celie.

Fired COLOR PURPLE Star Says She Didn't Know She Was Expected to Play a Lesbian Character

Legal action by Omooba was previously set to begin last April, but was postponed due to the global health crisis. Now the tribunal against Curve in Leicester has begun on the grounds of religious discrimination and breach of contract.

BWW Feature: Our Favourite Outdoor Theatre Memories

This summer, we're sadly not going to be seeing all the outdoor theatre that we've loved in past years - whether at venues like Regent's Park and Shakespeare's Globe or dedicated festivals and other open-air arts gatherings. So, until we can welcome all these wonderful events back again, BroadwayWorld reviewers are paying tribute to them with some of our favourite memories!

Legal Action from Fired COLOR PURPLE Star Postponed Due to Health Crisis

Legal action was previously set to begin in April, but according to The Stage,  the tribunal against Curve in Leicester has been postponed due to the global health crisis. Chris Stafford told The Stage: a?oeThe hearing, which was due to commence on April 30, has been vacated following a direction made by the president of the employment tribunals in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic. The hearing will now be listed for a future date when the employment tribunals are back to being fully operational.a??

Oluwaseyi (Seyi) Omooba Legal Action Regarding THE COLOR PURPLE Controversy to Begin in April

BroadwayWorld had previously reported that actress Oluwaseyi (Seyi) Omooba was removed from Leicester Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome's revival of musical The Color Purple after West End Hamilton actor Aaron Lee Lambert shared a screenshot of her 2014 Facebook post. The post quickly went viral, resulting in a social media outcry with many calling the actress homophobic.

THE COLOR PURPLE Actress Drops Legal Action Against Producer After Being Fired for 'Homophobic' Views

As BroadwayWorld reported in September, actress Oluwaseyi (Seyi) Omooba was removed from Leicester Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome's revival of musical The Color Purple after West End Hamilton actor Aaron Lee Lambert shared a screenshot of her 2014 Facebook post. The post quickly went viral, resulting in a social media outcry with many calling the actress homophobic.

Alice Walker Pens Moving Essay on THE COLOR PURPLE, Celie as a Character and Oluwaseyi Omooba

On Facebook this week, producer Scott Sanders shared the below letter from the Pulitzer Prize winning writer of The Color Purple, Alice Walker...

Wake Up With BWW 9/30: BE MORE CHILL Comes to London, and More!

Today's top stories: Be More Chill is headed to London, and more!

'Homophobic' Actress Dropped From THE COLOR PURPLE Plans To Sue

As we previously reported, actress Oluwaseyi (Seyi) Omooba was removed from Leicester Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome's revival of musical The Color Purple after Hamilton actor Aaron Lee Lambert shared a screenshot of her 2014 Facebook post. Now, the Daily Mail reports that Omooba claims she is a victim of religious discrimination.

T'Shan Williams Replaces Seyi Omooba in THE COLOR PURPLE

It was recently announced that T'Shan Williams will play the role of Celie at the upcoming Curve, Leicester and Birmingham Hippodrome production of The Color Purple.

BWW Interview: Debbie Kurup Talks SWEET CHARITY at Donmar Warehouse

Debbie Kurup's extensive musical theatre experience ranges from Chicago, West Side Story and Sister Act to originating roles in Girl from the North Country and The Bodyguard. She's currently playing taxi dancer Helene in Cy Coleman, Neil Simon and Dorothy Fields' Sweet Charity - the farewell production of Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Josie Rourke, opening early next month.

Wake Up With BWW 3/26: MAC Awards Celebrate Cabaret, Sutton Foster Joins THE MUSIC MAN, and More!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Scroll down for the latest news. Want our morning reports delivered via email? Subscribe here!

Talent Agency Drops Seyi Omooba Following Homophobic Comments and THE COLOR PURPLE Departure

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Seyi Omooba was recently dropped from the cast of Leicester Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome's revival of musical The Color Purple after homophobic comments were found on her Facebook page.

Theatrical Rights Worldwide & Authors Respond To Seyi Omooba's Dropping From THE COLOR PURPLE

Now, Theatrical Rights Worldwide has released a statement of support on their behalf and that of the authors of the show...

Wake Up With BWW 3/22: HADESTOWN Begins Previews, and More!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Happy Friday! Finish off your week by catching up on the latest Broadway news!