Portia to Replace Saidah Arrika Ekulona as Ruined’s Mama Nadi

On May 26, Portia will join the cast of Lynn Nottage’s Ruined at Manhattan Theatre Club, playing the enterprising Mother Courage-esque Mama Nadi. She’s replacing Saidah Arrika Ekulona, who originated the role in November 2008 at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. Ekulona is departing on May 17 due to a prior commitment; standby Victoire Charles will go on as Mama Nadi until Portia’s arrival.

Portia was recently seen in the Signature Theatre Company’s revival of Zooman and the Sign. She received a 2005 Drama Desk nomination for Stephen Belber’s McReele, and 2003 Lucille Lortel and Drama League nods for the LAByrinth Theater Company’s production of Our Lady of 121st Street.

Nottage received the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for her emotional Congo-set drama Ruined; it was also named Best Play by the New York Drama Critics’ Circle, the Lucille Lortel Awards and the Outer Critics Circle.

In addition to Ekulona, Ruined, directed by Kate Whoriskey, currently stars Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Cherise Boothe, Chris Chalk, William Jackson Harper, Chiké Johnson, Russell G. Jones, Simon Shabantu Kashama, Kevin Mambo, Tom Mardirosian, Ron McBee and Condola Rashad.

It runs through June 28 at MTC’s Stage 1.