Netflix Announces Madam Walker Series
(photo courtesy Madam Walker Theatre Center)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe namesake of the Madam Walker Theatre Center in Indianapolis will be the subject of a Netflix limited series. "Madam C.J. Walker" will star Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer, who will also serve as one of the executive producers alongside NBA star Lebron James.
The eight-episode series will tell the story of hair care pioneer Sarah Breedlove, better known as Madam C.J. Walker, who went from poverty to becoming one of America’s first black, self-made female millionaires.
Walker established the Madame C.J. Walker Manufacturing Co. headquarters in Indianapolis in the early 1900s. The building now houses the Madam Walker Theatre Center, which is a registered National Historic Landmark.
In January, Indiana University announced a partnership with the MWTC to refurbish and modernize the building. The Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment awarded more than $15 million in grants to support the project, which includes upgraded equipment, operational system updates and exterior improvements. It also involves updated programming including new classes, workshops, seminars and a speaker series.
