Leslie Odom Jr. Explains Why His Broadway Show About Segregation Is Important for Young Daughter to Watch (Exclusive)

Broadway's Purlie Victorious revival is a satire about segregation and racism. Still, its Tony Award-winning star, Leslie Odom Jr., is thrilled by the fact that his 6-year-old daughter, Lucille "Lucy" Ruby, is one of the show's biggest fans. 

"Lucy's seen the show a bunch. She's seen the show probably five times, and she just loves it," the Broadway star exclusively told The Messenger while discussing his partnership with Kinder Chocolate and their immersive pop-up event at Soho Lofts in New York City.

"Our show is a real family show. Kids get it on a different level than adults get it, but it's so joyful, and it's silly at times, but it packs a real wallop. So it is my pleasure to have her experience it so much. I hope that the deeper and sort of more challenging themes, are lodging themselves somewhere in the deep recesses of her brain and that they will show up for her later down the line."

The first Broadway revival of Ossie Davis' daring 1961 production follows Purlie Victorious Judson, a preacher devising a plan to outsmart a villainous plantation owner who is holding onto what Purlie considers a small fortune owed to him. He plans to use it so he can buy his family's church and integrate the congregation. 

While Odom Jr. is well aware of the importance of the themes in the show, he admits being on Broadway with a young family at home — in addition to Lucy, Odom Jr. and wife Nicolette Robinson share son Able, 2 — is not an easy feat. 

"I'm not the only parent on Broadway, so I don't want to make myself out to be some hero. But for Nicolette and I both, it is challenging, but it's worth it. That's the thing. Performing in the theater comes at a cost," Odom Jr. explained. "It comes at some sacrifice to those of us with small kids, but I just try to make sure that I pick material in this season of my life that is worth the sacrifice. And Purlie Victorious certainly is worth that sacrifice."

The family makes a habit of live theater experiences, the Hamilton alum added, which allows the kids to build relationships with their parents' creative colleagues as well as other kids in the tight-knit community. One example he points to is his children's adoration for Kara Young, their dad's Purlie Victorious co-star whom, he said, they ask about often. 

"We're naturally curious people, and we're interested in how kids think and how they're taking in the world," Odom Jr. explained. 

This is why the One Night in Miami star has grown to prioritize experiences that allow his family to bond, he said. 

"When you're walking through New York City with your kids — a free event, a parade, something experiential, something where you can create a memory with them — I run toward those things now with two little kids," he shared. 

"And so the kids got to experience Kinderland," he added of the Kinder Chocolate experience, "and we made a little sweet memory — pardon the pun — around some great chocolate. And so it's been a really nice friendship that we're developing."

Purlie Victorious is currently playing at Broadway's Music Box Theatre.