Netflix Announces Madam Walker Series
The 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.