In conjunction with youth organization Saving Our Daughters and the 10,000 Girls Initiative, which aims to help 10,000 girls, ages 16-24 from the Tri-State area, to experience a Broadway show, several female residents of Covenant House (the international organization that provides services for homeless, at-risk and trafficked youth in the U.S., Canada and Latin America) were given the chance to enjoy the April 21 performance of the new Broadway drama Eclipsed.

Danai Gurira's Eclipsed, which plays the Golden Theatre, concerns a group of women being held captive in the African nation of Liberia.

Following the performance several members of a cast that includes Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o, Saycon Sengbloh, Akosua Busia, Zainab Jah, Pascale Armand and Ayesha Jordan, had a talkback session with the young women of Covenant House.

The cast members answered questions and discussed the importance of why these types of stories should be told on Broadway.

“Learning that our voices, my voice as a black woman matters, you surprise yourself when put in certain situations, and you wonder, 'Who would I be?'” said Pascale Armand, who plays the character of Wife Number 3, Bessie. “You would be amazed at the choices you would make and what woman you would be,” added Zainab Jah, who plays Wife Number 2, Maima.

“I have never found anything but prayer to really take away the pain, and I have never found anything but prayer and reading my Bible to shut out the chaos. I can’t control the chaos, but I can control the chaos inside my spirit, mind and soul,” explained Akosua Busia, who plays Rita.