Interesting that Donna Murphy decided to weigh in with much detail in the Audra McDonald - Kecia Lewis - Patti LuPone brouhaha. From her Instagram account:
" officialdonnamurphy
I’ve had the privilege of knowing, working with and being awed by these two veteran artists since the 1990s. They each were stars from my very first encounter with them. Those 1st encounters for me were as an audience member, being blown away by their astounding gifts (@audramcdonald in #Carousel @lctheater ; @therealkecialewis in the Original Broadway Company of #OnceonthisIsland .) I then had the honor of workshopping shows w/each of them. I witnessed, up close, not only their immeasurable artistry, but their dedication, discipline, kindness, humor, grace under pressure, strength, support of the communities we were a part of, & their luminous humanity. Since then, I’ve watched Audra and Kecia’s stars’ continue to rise and shine brighter over the years. Their lives & careers have grown, the children they have raised/are raising thrive with their hard working & loving mothers’ support, and they have never been anything less than warm, kind & supportive anytime we have encountered each other.
I do not understand why we cannot use our moments on this earth to lift and support one another. Especially when, as fellow artists, we know the vulnerability & challenges of day to day survival. We live lives of uncertainty. Add to that being women of color who have historically been undervalued, mistreated, and worse. Praise them, raise them up, honor them. And in my case: love them. Sending my love & deepest respect to these two superstars. 💖💖🙌🙌🌟🌟👑👑💞💞 "
