I can't quite remember the exact moment when I became obsessed with writing a play about the seemingly endless war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but I knew that I wanted to somehow tell the stories of the Congolese women caught in the cross-fire. Votes: 15
I was repeatedly told that there isn't an African American woman who can open a show on Broadway. I said, 'Well, how do we know? How do we know if we don't do it?' I said, 'I think you're wrong.' Votes: 11
African American women in particular have incredible buying power. Statistically, we go to the movies more than anyone. We have made Tyler Perrys career. His films open with $25 million almost consistently. Votes: 10
I find my characters and stories in many varied places; sometimes they pop out of newspaper articles, obscure historical texts, lively dinner party conversations and some even crawl out of the dusty remote recesses of my imagination. Votes: 9
If you lead with the anger, it will turn off the audience. And what I want is the audience to engage with the material and to listen and then to ask questions. I think that 'Ruined' was very successful at doing that. Votes: 9
Just because itâs a unique perspective doesnât mean it canât offer something universal. Votes: 6
I always thought of my mother as a warrior woman, and I became interested in pursuing stories of women who invent lives in order to survive. Votes: 5
Each play I write has its own unique origin story. Votes: 5
In the business of war, the role of women is really to maintain normalcy and ensure that there is cultural continuity. Votes: 3
My interest in theatre and storytelling began in my mother's kitchen. It was a meeting place for my mother's large circle of friends. Votes: 2
A play that forces us to question our moral responsibility to the victims of human rights abuse. Votes: 2
Plays are getting smaller and smaller, not because playwrights minds are shrinking but because of the economics. Votes: 1
I wanted to tell the story of these women and the war in the Congo and I couldn't find anything about them in the newspapers or in the library, so I felt I had to get on a plane and go to Africa and find the story myself. I felt there was a complete absence in the media of their narrative. It's very different now, but when I went in 2004 that was definitely the case. Votes: 1
I feel it's my social responsibility to shine a light on areas that don't get seen. My personal feeling is that it's an artist's responsibility to be engaged with the culture. And when the culture is going through turmoil, I think an artist can't ignore that. I don't feel that every artist has to be politically engaged, but I can't imagine that you can be an active participant of this culture and not in some way reflect that in the work you are creating. Votes: 0
I need a release from whatever I'm writing. Votes: 0