The Color Purple on Broadway

Based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, The Color Purple is an inspiring family saga that tells the unforgettable story of a woman who - through love - finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world. Set to a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, and blues, The Color Purple is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love and a celebration of life.

Review:
While I haven't seen The Color Purple on Broadway yet, it had it's premiered at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Joy Johnston, About.com's Guide to Atlanta, saw the performance and wrote a very nice review. Read Joy's review of The Color Purple.

Cast:
LaChanze....Celie
Elisabeth Withers....Shug
Felicia P. Fields....Sofia
Renée Elise Goldsberry....Nettie
Kingsley Leggs....Mister
Brandon Victor Dixon....Harpo
Krisha Marcano....Squeak
Jeannette Bayardelle
James Brown III
Eric L. Christian
Latrisa Coleman
Bobby Daye
Carol Dennis
Anika Ellis
Doug Eskew
Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines
Zipporah Gatling
Charles Gray
Stephanie Guiland-Brown
James Harkness
Francesca Harper
Kimberly Ann Harris
Chantylla Johnson
Grasan Kingsberry
Corinne McFarlane
Kenita R. Miller
JC Montgomery
Lou Myers

Angela Robinson
Nathaniel Stampley
Jamal Story
Leon Thomas III
Maia Nkenge Wilson
Virginia Woodruff

Creative Team
Director....Gary Griffin
Libretto....Marsha Norman
Music and lyrics....Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray
Scenic design....John Lee Beatty
Costume design....Paul Tazewell
Lighting design....Brian MacDevitt
Sound design....Jon Weston
Choreographer....Donald Byrd
Orchestrations....Jonathan Tunick

Musical Numbers:
Act 1
Huckelberry Pie....Young Celie & Young Nettie
Mysterious Ways....Church Soloist, Church Ladies and Company
Somebody Gonna Love You....Celie
Our Prayer....Nettie, Celie and Mister
Big Dog....Mister and Field Hands
Hell No!....Sofia and Sisters
Brown Betty....Harpo, Men and Squeak
Shug Avery Comin' to Town....Mister, Celie and Company
Too Beautiful for Words....Shug Avery
Push Da Button....Shug Avery and Company
Uh-Oh!....Church Ladies, Sofia and Squeak
What About Love?....Celie & Shug Avery

Act II
African Homeland....Nettie, Celie, Olivia, Adam and Villagers
The Color Purple....Shug Avery
Mister's Song....Mister
Miss Celie's Pants....Celie, Shug Avery, Sofia and Women
Any Little Thing....Harpo & Sofia
I'm Here....Celie
The Color Purple (Reprise)....Celie, Nettie and Company

You can download samples of these songs here

Performance location and times:
Broadway Theatre
1681 Broadway (Between West 52nd and 53rd Streets)
New York, NY 10019

Performance Times
Tuesday at 8 PM
Wednesday at 2 PM 8 PM
Thursday at 8 PM
Friday at 8 PM
Saturday at 2 PM and 8 PM
Sunday at 3 PM

Trivia: Alice Walker won a Pulitzer Prize for the novel of The Color Purple.

Playing the role of Celie in the movie version of The Color Purple, was Whoopi Goldberg's first major role.

Awards and Nominations: 2006 Theatre World Award
Felicia P. Fields
Elisabeth Withers-Mendes

Nominations

2006 Tony Award Best Musical
2006 Tony Award Best Book of a Musical
2006 Tony Award Best Original Score
2006 Tony Award Best Actress in a Musical
2006 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical
2006 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Musical
2006 Tony Award Best Choreography
2006 Tony Award Best Scenic Design of a Musical
2006 Tony Award Best Costume Design of a Musical
2006 Tony Award Best Lighting Design of a Musical

See more Picture from THE COLOR PURPLE