In 1983 Whoopi Goldberg (Caryn Elaine Johnson) created The Spook Show, a one-woman show composed of different character monologues. Director Mike Nichols offered to take the show to Broadway. Whoopi Goldberg: Direct from Broadway premiered on October 24, 1984 and ran until March 10, 1985, for a total of 156 performances.
The show catapulted the virtually unknown comedian/actor to stardom. Goldberg garnered a 1985 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show and a Grammy Award. Goldberg became only the second woman, and the first African-American woman to receive a Grammy Award for best comedy album. Goldberg is still one of only three women to receive that award. Goldberg is one of the few entertainers to have won an Oscar, Grammy, Tony and Emmy.
Whoopi – A Lesson for everyone