Danielle Brooks is stepping away from the piano for a week.
The actress, 33, announced on Saturday that she’ll be taking a break from herrole as Berniece in Broadway’s The Piano Lesson after testing positive forCOVID-19, or as she called it, having a run-in with the “COVID sample.”
She started in the production, which is directed by Tony nominee LaTanyaRichardson Jackson and comes from the mind of playwright August Wilson, onThursday during opening night.
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“My body has spoken and has forced me to Go Lay Down,” Brooks wrote Saturdayon Instagram after missing Friday’s performance. “Yes the Covid Monster gotme. Even though masks are not required in theaters I would encourage you tostill take precautions and wear your mask. Can’t wait to return stronger andbetter than ever.”
While Brooks is set to be out for a week, the role of Berniece will be takenover by understudy Shirine Babb, who has previously performed in Harry Potterand the Cursed Child and Macbeth.
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Brooks share the news with a photo of herself standing side-by-side withcostars Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington, calling that particularmoment “one of the highlights of my career.” Using the hashtag”#understudiesrock,” Brooks wrote that the role is a “daily confirmation thatI am in my purpose.” But sometimes, as she explained, “your purpose isn’tabout you.”
“I am so happy for [Babb] making her debut as Berniece until Oct. 23rd,”Brooks wrote.
In her own Instagram clip reacting to the news of her taking on the role ofBerniece, Babb wrote “OMG!! I’M On TONIGHT.” Babb revealed in the clip, whichwas filmed as she walked around New York City, that she had just gotten thecall.
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“Alright people, I’m on tonight,” she told her followers. “So I don’t know ifyou can get a ticket, but your girl’s going to do it.”
Guests at Friday night’s performance were given a slip alerting them to thecasting change, along with their Playbills. Babb’s Instagram Story thefollowing day was filled with friends who seemed equally excited for herspecial moment.
According to a plot summary on the play’s website, The Piano Lesson followsa “battle brewing in the Charles household. At the center lies the family’sprized heirloom piano. On one side, a brother plans to build the familyfortune by selling it. On the other, a sister will go to any length to keep itand preserve the family history. Only their uncle stands in between. But evenhe can’t hold back the ghosts of the past.”
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Back in August, Brooks and her costars could be seen in exclusive first-lookphotos from The Piano Lesson ‘s first day of rehearsals, held at the New42nd Street Studios in Times Square. One shot in particular showed Brookssnapping a selfie with both Washington and Samuel.
“I thank god for this day,” LaTanya, 72, said, addressing the group in a videofrom August. “Finally. All of you who have been on this journey, waiting,waiting, putting your businesses to the side, I can’t thank you enough. I amready, you are ready, and we’re going to throw down.”
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