The Color Purple (musical)

The Color Purple is a musical with a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Stephen Bray, Brenda Russell, and Allee Willis. Based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker, the show follows the journey of Celie, an African-American woman in the American South from the early to mid-20th century.

The original Broadway production ran from 2005 to 2008, earning eleven Tony Award nominations in 2006. In 2015, the musical received an enthusiastically acclaimed Broadway revival which won two Tony Awards in 2016—including Best Revival of a Musical. The revival production is set to close on January 8, 2017.

Productions

Workshop and world premiere (2004–2005)

The Color Purple was originally workshopped by the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, in the summer of 2004 following Scott Sanders' optioning the work from Alice Walker in 1999 and auditioning various creative team members. The September 9, 2004, world premiere of the musical was produced by the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta by special arrangement with Creative Battery and Scott Sanders Productions.

For the Atlanta run, La Chanze starred as Celie, Felicia P. Fields as Sofia, Saycon Sengbloh as Nettie, Adriane Lenox as Shug and Kingsley Leggs as Mister. Gary Griffin staged the work, with scenic design by John Lee Beatty, lighting by Brian MacDevitt, costumes by Paul Tazewell and sound by Jon Weston.^[1][2]

Broadway (2005–2008)

The musical opened on Broadway at The Broadway Theatre on December 1, 2005. It was directed by Gary Griffin, produced by Scott Sanders, Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey, with choreography by Donald Byrd and musical direction by Linda Twine. The musical closed on February 24, 2008, after 30 previews and 910 regular performances. The Broadway production recouped its $11 million investment within its first year on Broadway, and had grossed over $103 million by the time it closed.^[3]

The original Broadway production starred LaChanze as Celie, Brandon Victor Dixon as Harpo, Felicia P. Fields as Sofia, Renée Elise Goldsberry as Nettie, Kingsley Leggs as Mister, Krisha Marcano as Squeak, and Elisabeth Withers-Mendes as Shug Avery.

First national tour (2007–2010)

Chicago (2007)

The First National tour began on April 17, 2007, starting with an extended run at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. The company includes LaToya London as Nettie, Michelle Williams as Shug Avery, Felicia P. Fields as Sofia, and Jeannette Bayardelle as Celie, Stephanie St. James as Squeak. Bayardelle and Fields both are reprising their roles from Broadway. The show exceeded expectations, which necessitated a four-week extension of its Chicago engagement until September 30, 2007.^[4] The original expectation was that the show would run in Chicago until November.^[5] In all, the show produced respectable business results bringing in about $1 million per week for the first half of the engagement, but less during the summer months when the ticket prices were reduced to $39.50 to keep the theater full.^[6]

Chicago was notable as a starting point of the national tour because Oprah Winfrey, a 1986 Academy Awards nominee in the film adaptation^[7] is a Chicago resident.^[8][9] In addition, Felicia Fields is a Chicago native and resident. It was also a homecoming for Gary Griffin. Both Fields and Griffin made their broadway theatre debuts with this musical.^[10] As a result of the Chicago connections the Chicago premiere had a star-studded red carpet with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Jesse Jackson, R. Kelly, and Roger Ebert.^[11] Others in attendance included United States Senator Carol Moseley Braun and Christie Hefner.^[12] Coverage of the Chicago premiere was prominent in international media.^[13]

Second national tour (2010–2011)

A second national tour with a new non-Equity cast opened on March 12, 2010 at the Lyric Opera House and visited numerous US cities, making several return engagements. The role of Celie was played by Detroit native Dayna Jarae Dantzler. The role of Shug Avery was played by New Orleans native Taprena Augustine. Tour stops include Omaha, Nashville, Fort Lauderdale, Mobile, Durham, and more.^[14][15] Due to an overwhelming demand, the tour returned to New Orleans where it played a 5-show limited-engagement at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts from February 11–13, 2011.^[16]

Third national tour (2012)

A third national tour with a non-Equity cast opened January 17, 2012 at the Francis Marion University PAC, in Florence, South Carolina, with previews in New Haven, CT at the Schubert Theater. The role of Celie is played by Washington, D.C. native, Ashley L. Ware, and Taprena Augustine has reprised her role as Shug Avery alongside Dayna Quincy taking the role of Nettie (later taking the role of Celie at Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia). Tour stops include Nevada (Las Vegas & Reno), Alabama (Mobile), Pennsylvania (Williamsport, Reading & Bloomsburg), and more.^[15]

London production (2013)

A first international production, directed by John Doyle, opened in London at The Menier Chocolate Factory on July 17, 2013. The limited run ended on 14 September 2013. The cast included Cynthia Erivo (Celie), Nicola Hughes (Shug) and Christopher Colquhoun (Mister/Albert).

Broadway revival (2015–2017)

On January 9, 2015, producers Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, and Oprah Winfrey announced that the Menier Chocolate Factory production would be mounted on Broadway. Jennifer Hudson makes her Broadway debut in the role of Shug, Danielle Brooks plays the role of Sofia, and Cynthia Erivo reprises her role as Celie. Kyle Jean-Baptiste was slated to be in it as well, but he died in August 2015.^[17][18] Previews began November 10, 2015, with the official opening December 10 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.^[19][20][21] Cynthia Erivo won the 2016 Tony Award for best performance by a leading actress in a musical. The production won the 2016 Tony Award for best revival of a musical.^[22] The production is set to close on January 8, 2017. ^[23]

Synopsis

Act I

On a Sunday morning in 1909, fourteen-year-old Celie – who has had one child by her father Alphonso and is now pregnant with her second – plays a clapping game with her younger sister Nettie. While attending services with the other members of their rural Georgia community, Celie goes into labor and is dragged out of the church as the congregation quietly looks on ("Huckleberry Pie/Mysterious Ways"). After Celie gives birth to a son, her father takes the child away and bluntly tells her he is going to get rid of it like the last one. Celie quietly says goodbye to her newborn and asks God for a sign ("Somebody Gonna Love You").

Four years later, local farmer and widower Albert "Mister" Johnson approaches Alphonso and asks permission to marry one of his daughters. Alphonso agrees, offering him Celie, instead of Nettie, and throwing a cow into the bargain. Although the girls promise never to be separated, Celie goes with Mister to save Nettie's dreams of becoming a teacher ("Our Prayer"). The local Church Ladies cluck their approval ("That Fine Mister") while Mister's field hands introduce Celie to a life of hard work ("Big Dog").

One day, Nettie arrives, explaining that she is tired of Alphonso's lecherous attentions and asking if she can stay. Mister agrees, but later attacks Nettie while she is walking to school. She fights back, prompting Mister to kick her out. Celie protests, but Mister swears they will never see each other again. As she leaves Mister's property, Nettie promises to write to Celie ("Lily of the Field").

In 1920, Mister's son Harpo brings home Sofia, a strong-willed woman whom he later marries ("Dear God - Sofia"). When he complains that he is tired of Sofia bossing him around, Mister and Celie tell him the only way to get her to listen is to beat her. Harpo attempts to do so but ends up being beaten by Sofia ("A Tree Named Sofia"). After confronting Celie, Sofia learns the extent of Mister's cruelty and tells Celie to stand up for herself before leaving home to spend time with her sisters ("Hell No!").

Harpo decides to turn his house into a juke joint and engages in an affair with a waitress named Squeak, who moves in with him. Sometime later, the community prepares for the arrival of jazz singer Shug Avery, who is revealed to be Mister's longtime lover ("Shug Avery Comin' to Town"). But when Shug arrives with her band, she is in such bad shape that Celie nurses her back to health in spite of local disapproval ("All We've Got to Say").

While tailoring a dress for Shug's debut, Celie experiences feelings of warmth and tenderness for the first time ("Dear God - Shug"). Shug, meanwhile, learns more about Celie's relationship with Mister and encourages her to find her inner strength ("Too Beautiful for Words"').

That night, at Harpo's Juke Joint, Shug brings down the house with a raucous blues number ("Push Da Button"). Sofia arrives with her new boyfriend Buster and dances with Harpo, prompting Squeak to pick a fight with her ("Uh Oh!"). The fight eventually escalates into a bar brawl, prompting Shug and Celie to escape.

After returning to Mister's house, Shug and Celie explore their newfound relationship ("What About Love?"). Shug uncovers several letters for Celie that have come from Africa. Celie recognizes Nettie's handwriting and realizes that her sister is alive ("Act I Finale").

Act II

While reading the letters that Mister has hidden from her, Celie learns that Nettie is in Africa and is living with the missionary family that adopted her children ("African Homeland"). In Georgia, Sofia is arrested for assaulting the mayor after refusing to work for his wife. When Celie goes to visit her, she learns Sofia will serve out her sentence in the Mayor's custody.

In 1932, Shug brings her lover Grady over for Easter. After learning the extent of Celie's anger towards God, Shug invites her to come back to Memphis with her so they can enjoy the simple joys of life ("The Color Purple"). After sitting down to dinner ("Church Ladies' Easter"), Celie tells Mister that she is leaving and Squeak announces she is leaving as well.

When Mister refuses and tries to beat her, Celie stands firm and curses him ("I Curse You, Mister"). Harpo then invites Sofia to come back and live at the Juke Joint, reconciling with her in the process. Eventually, Mister begins to feel the effect of Celie's curse. Harpo challenges his father to make things right after a bunch of terrible things happen to Mister, which force Mister to try to understand the meaning of Celie's curse and the meaning of life other than his tough childhood. ("Mister's Song/Celie's Curse").

At Shug's Memphis home, Celie starts writing back to Nettie and discovers that she has a natural gift for making pants. After inheriting her childhood home, Celie starts a business and begins selling her designs ("Miss Celie's Pants"). Meanwhile, Harpo and Sofia hit it off and then the two learn that Mister is having difficulty getting Nettie and the children to come to the United States. The three resolve to make a plan. ("Any little thing")

Shug tells Celie that she has fallen in love with a 19-year-old musician in her band and asks her permission to have one last fling with him. Meanwhile, Mister has reconciled his life ("What About Love? [Reprise]"). While walking home, Celie realizes that she isn't destroyed by this and, for the first time, feels a deep love for herself ("I'm Here").

Several years later, while hosting a Fourth of July picnic for the community, Celie hears a car horn and a familiar voice from her childhood. It is Nettie singing the clapping song from their childhood. They both run to each other and hug with Celie's children right behind them all grown up. After learning that Mister and Shug have made the reunion possible, Celie thanks them and God for reuniting her with her sister ("The Color Purple [Reprise]").

Cast

Opening-night casts of notable productions

Cast replacements

• Jeannette Bayardelle assumed the role of Celie from LaChanze in the original Broadway production on November 5, 2006.
• Kenita R. Miller assumed the role of Celie from Jeannette Bayardelle in the original Broadway production on February 20, 2007.
• Fantasia Barrino assumed the role of Celie in the original Broadway production from April 10, 2007, to January 6, 2008, becoming the first American Idol winner on Broadway.^[24]
• Fantasia reprised her performance as Celie in the 2010 National tour from June 30 to September 13, 2010.
• Heather Headley assumed the role of Shug Avery from Jennifer Hudson in the 2015 Broadway revival on May 10, 2016.^[25]
• Jennie Harney assumed the role of Nettie from Joaquina Kalukango in the 2015 revival on September 20, 2016.^[26]
• Jennifer Holliday assumed the role of Shug Avery from Heather Headley in the 2015 revival on October 4, 2016.
• Carrie Compere assumed the role of Sofia from Danielle Brooks in the 2015 revival on November 15, 2016.^[27]
• Nathaniel Stampley assumed the role of Mister from Isaiah Johnson in the 2015 revival on November 15, 2016. ^[28]
• Carla Stewart assumed the role of Church Lady from Carrie Compere in the 2015 revival on November 15, 2016.

Musical numbers

Act I "Overture" – Orchestra "Huckleberry Pie" / "Mysterious Ways" – Young Celie and Young Nettie / Celie, Nettie and Ensemble "Somebody Gonna Love You" – Celie "Our Prayer" – Nettie, Celie, Mister, Doris, Darlene, Jarene and Pa "That Fine Mister" – Doris, Darlene and Jarene "Big Dog" – Mister, Celie, Young Harpo, Mister's Daughters and Male Ensemble "Lily of the Field" – Celie, Nettie and Mister "Dear God - Sofia" – Celie "A Tree Named Sofia" – Doris, Darlene and Jarene "Hell No!" – Sofia, Celie and Female Ensemble "Brown Betty" – Harpo, Squeak, Celie and Male Ensemble "Shug Avery Comin' to Town" – Mister, Celie and Ensemble "All We've Got to Say" – Doris, Darlene and Jarene "Dear God - Shug" – Celie and Shug "Too Beautiful for Words" – Shug "Push Da Button" – Shug, Harpo and Ensemble "Uh-Oh!" – Sofia, Squeak, Celie, Buster and Female Ensemble "What About Love?" – Celie and Shug "Act I Finale" – Orchestra, Shug, Celie and Nettie

Act II "African Homeland" – Nettie, Celie, Young Adam, Young Olivia and Ensemble "The Color Purple" – Shug and Celie "Church Ladies' Easter" – Doris, Darlene and Jarene "I Curse You Mister" – Celie and Mister "Mister's Song - Celie's Curse" – Mister "Miss Celie's Pants" – Celie, Shug, Sofia and Female Ensemble "Any Little Thing" – Harpo and Sofia "What About Love? (Reprise)" – Celie and Shug "I'm Here" – Celie "The Color Purple (Reprise)" – Celie and Company Lovely Hoffman playing Celie.

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

2015 Broadway revival

References

External links

• Official site
• The Color Purple at the Internet Broadway Database
• The Color Purple Audition Advice & Show Information from MusicalTheatreAudition.net
• The Color Purple at Broadway Theater
• Wanabehuman: Theatre review - The Color Purple, New York City
• The Color Purple on Broadway.com