Tony Winner Tonya Pinkins Set for Ethel Waters: His Eye Is On the Sparrow

Tony winner Tonya Pinkins will take on the title role in Ethel Waters: His Eye Is On the Sparrow at the Luna Stage in West Orange, New Jersey. Written by Larry Parr and directed by Dennis Courtney, the show will open on August 16 and is set to play a limited engagement through September 2.

Ethel Waters: His Eye Is On the Sparrow is the story of the legendary blues, jazz and gospel singer. Her greatest hits include “Stormy Weather,” “Heat Wave,” “Taking a Chance on Love,” and of course, “His Eye Is On the Sparrow.” Waters was nominated for a 1949 Academy Award for the film Pinky. She appeared on Broadway in Laugh Time, Cabin in the Sky, Mamba’s Daughters, At Home Abroad, As Thousands Cheer, Rhapsody in Black, Lew Leslie’s Blackbirds, Africana, Blue Holiday, The Member of the Wedding and in her own revue, At Home With Ethel Waters.

Pinkins earned a Tony Award for Jelly’s Last Jam, and received nominations for Play On! and Caroline, Or Change. Her additional Broadway credits include Merrily We Roll Along, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, The Wild Party and Radio Golf. Her film and TV credits include Army Wives, As The World Turns, All My Children and Enchanted.