Pinkins resigned from the production during previews in a dispute with director Brian Kulick.
The critics are filing their reviews, and Playbill.com will continue to update them for our readers.
Lewis (who also has performed as Kecia Lewis-Evans) has six Broadway credits, notably originating the role of Asaka in the 1990 musical Once On This Island.
Mother Courage producers wrote, "Lewis's rich career of portraying powerful mothers and formidable women has come full circle. It all began when Kecia was 18 years old and made her debut as Effie in the original Broadway company of Dreamgirls. Kecia went on to be seen on Broadway in Big River, Ain't Misbehavin, Gospel At Colonus, and earned a Drama Desk Nomination for her work in Dessa Rose at Lincoln Center Theatre. Additionally, Kecia originated Trix and Ida Mae in the Broadway productions of The Drowsy Chaperone and Leap of Faith, respectively, and took over the reins of Mama Morton in Chicago. Most recently Kecia was seen flying through the air, spreading joy and magic as The Fairy Godmother in the First National Tour of Cinderella. On television, Kecia can be seen on 'Law & Order SVU' (recurring), 'Limitless,' and in the upcoming season of 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.'"
Read Pinkins's Unedited, Full Statement Detailing Her Abrupt Departure from CSC's Mother Courage.
Lewis is joined in the production by Joshua Boone, Curtiss Cook Jr., Kevin Mambo, Jacob Ming-Trent, Geoffrey Owens, Michael Potts, Deandre Sevon, Mirirai Sithole and Zenzi Williams.
In Mother Courage and Her Children, "the indomitable Mother Courage follows one luckless army after another across a war-torn world in her canteen wagon," state CSC press notes. "She’ll do anything to hold onto her money-making wagon, even if it means the loss of her children, in this timeless tale of war and big business updated to the modern-day conflagration in the Congo."
The production features original music by Duncan Sheik, set design by Tony Straiges, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Justin Townsend and sound design by Matt Stine.
To purchase tickets call (212) 352-3101, visit the theatre in person at 136 East 13th Street or go to ClassicStage.org.
