The Color Purple - Leicester Curve / U.K. Tour

No, HATE is HATE.

I'd prefer her to show that she thoroughly repudiates and regrets her previously-expressed views. That would be the best outcome. I'd rather see hearts and minds changed than broken.
Second best choice is for her to recognise that her views make her a pariah in the musical theatre community, and for that to prompt her resignation and a period of reflection on her beliefs and how they fit with her chosen career.
A poor third choice is for her to go on to empty, silent, houses.
The worst possible outcome is the one that makes her a victim of the LGBT community and undermines the freedoms they themselves rely on when facing discrimination - because this is a highly unusual situation, and it's still far more likely that LGBT people will be in jobs where they could be discriminated against for expressing their private views than homophobic bigots will.

are you serious? You think I have nothing better to do than attempt to bring down this woman's career when she's already digging that hole for herself.

Maybe I didn't clarify correctly I rang up and simply said "I just wanted to know, because of recent issues that have occurred involving the casting of The Color Purple, I have no intention of seeing this actress if she is in the role, so is there going to be the offer of a alternate in the role or if you will offer refunds if we are uncomfortable with the outcome of the decision? Because myself and several friends have concerns" and the woman was very understanding of these concerns because she said she has had many calls this morning about this same issue. I am perfectly in my right, as a potential audience member, to voice my concern on these kind of issues, because it is important and the Curve and Hippodrome run the risk of alienating a large amount of their regular theatre audiences should they not listen to these concerns.

this actress has brought all these problems on herself as she was the one who made the initial posts, and she was the one who made previous people she worked with uncomfortable as recent as less than a year ago.

That's why it's important to stand by the principle. It's counter-productive in the long term not to - even though it would feel satisfying in the short-term.

You can see from the screenshot of her post that it was originally visible to friends AND friends of friends. So not so private.

I completely agree. And that should stay the main focus.

Maybe they already tried to buy her out but she is playing stubborn. I just hope she understands she might be blacklisted for a few years.

I fear this is going to tarnish the whole production, every review or notice about the show is going to mention this scandal and it is going to leave a black mark over the whole production even if it’s better then Doyle’s from a few years ago.

Hard to believe that one no? She's been in a concert version of the show previously and one presumes that she read a script? Hell, I've neither performed in a concert version of 'The Color Purple' nor am I friends with Cynthia Erivo but even I know there's a touch of the goings on of a lesbian variety in the show. She's not Helen Keller, I can't believe it completely passed her by so my assumption will be that she saw what the role did for Cynthia Erivo's career and she decided that she wanted a part of that herself. Plus she may also have wanted an Emmy for turning up to a breakfast TV show like Cynthia.

What I'm struggling to understand here (and hoping the press statement and any comments from Seyi will clarify) is how someone with such demonstrated deeply rooted beliefs could accept a role such as Celie in the first place.
Having worked on the piece previously at the Cadogan Hall concert, you would expect her to have some comprehension of the material and its contextual meaning.
I'm not questioning her beliefs, but more the morals behind them. If she has vocally abstained from previous pro-LGBT events, whats the difference here, other than getting paid for it and the exposure?
Either there is a genuine lack of understanding of the material (which in itself is concerning) or she's willing to put her religious beliefs in a box for the matter of money.
As an atheist I can't put myself into her shoes, but, if I was an actor and had been offered the leading role of a white supremacist I'm not sure I could take it on in good conciseness. That said, I've not been in that position so can't say for sure.

Or am I showing a lack of understanding?

I do have to question what the Curve management believe by 'a matter of priority' - they have been keeping people waiting since 11.48am without any further comment.

This is something that is damaging their reputation - the longer they leave it, the greater the damage. This should have been resolved over the weekend - it should never have got to Monday without a resolution.

Perhaps they are in negotiations with Joseph at the Palladium, and she’ll be announced as our titular hero and the spotlight will move to another thread.