Mel Brooks developing "The Producers" and "Young Frankenstein" for the musical theater, saying of an early meeting with her: "From that day, until her death…we were glued together." Regarding religion, Brooks stated, "I'm rather secular. I'm basically Jewish. But I think I'm Jewish not because of the Jewish religion at all. I think it's the relationship with the people and the pride I have. The tribe surviving so many misfortunes, and being so brave and contributing so much knowledge to the world and showing courage." Brooks' great-nephew from his brother Lenny, Todd Kaminsky, is a New York state senator for state senate
Danielle Brooks regular for the show's second season. In September 2013, Brooks was cast in a Season 3 episode of the HBO series "Girls", where she played the first black woman on the show. On May 27, 2015, the media announced that Brooks would make her Broadway debut in the upcoming fall 2015 revival of "The Color Purple" as Sofia. The musical opened on December 10 at the Bernard B. Jacobs, to critical acclaim. Brooks received praise for her performance, and received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Danielle Brooks Danielle Brooks (born September 17,