Theatre Thu Sep 23 2010
Ruined by Oprah Winfrey
We all know what happens when Oprah Winfrey really likes something--authors' books become bestsellers, singers' CDs go double platinum, and if you're Lynn Nottage, well, your play just might be adapted for television.
Nottage, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2009 for Ruined, will see her award-winning play hit the small screen via HBO and Winfrey's Harpo Productions.
Ruined, co-produced by the Goodman Theatre and which enjoyed its world premiere there in 2008, is the story of a tough madam who, despite the turmoil of civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, manages her brothel all while confronting the physical and sexual abuse and other volatile situations her "workers" endure.
When the critically acclaimed play actually transitions to its telefilm version is unknown; according to a representative for Nottage who spoke to the L.A. Times, "The project is still in its early phases and no production dates or release dates have been announced."
Ruined joins a long line of other Pulitzer Prize winning works that have also gone to HBO including Angels in America.
Photo: Chicago Tribune
