Artist:
Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Color Purple
Genre: Theater
Background: Oprah Winfrey
— the television celebrity-entrepreneur
who starred in the film of the Pulitzer
Prize-winning novel — has joined
the producing team of Broadway's upcoming
musical adaptation of The Color Purple.
Based on Alice Walker's book and the
Steven Spielberg film of the same name,
the new musical begins previews at the
Broadway Theatre Nov. 1 toward an official
opening Dec. 1. The show will now reflect
the addition of Forbes magazine's most
powerful celebrity as the sole, above
the title, presenting producer.
LaChanze will star on Broadway with Elisabeth
Withers, Felicia P. Fields, Renée
Elise Goldsberry and Kingsley Leggs in
the musical adaptation of The Color Purple,
the producers announced Sept. 7. Based
on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning
novel and the Steven Spielberg film of
the same name, the new musical begins
previews at the Broadway Theatre Nov.
1 toward an official opening Dec. 1.
Gary Griffin stages the work featuring
a book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha
Norman ('night, Mother). Music is by pop
songwriters Brenda Russell, Allee Willis
and Stephen Bray.
The surnameless star LaChanze (Once on
This Island, Ragtime, Company) reprises
her turn as the story's central character
Celie from the world premiere at Atlanta's
Alliance Theatre in fall 2004. Her casting
was previously reported by Playbill.com.
Broadway newcomer Withers appears as Shug
with Renée Elise Goldsberry (The
Lion King) featured as Nettie, joining
original Atlanta stars Felicia P. Fields
as Sofia and Kingsley Leggs as Mister.
(Saycon Sengbloh originally played Nettie
with Adriane Lenox as Shug in Atlanta.)
The cast also features Brandon Victor
Dixon as Harpo, Krisha Marcano as Squeak
and includes 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
and Virginia Woodruff.
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,"
as a release states. The show's score
blends "gospel, jazz, ragtime and
the blues."
Donald Byrd choreographs for the musical.
Orchestrations are by Jonathan Tunick,
Kevin Stites is music supervisor and Linda
Twine serves as musical director. The
Color Purple design team features John
Lee Beatty (scenic), Brian MacDevitt (lighting),
Paul Tazewell (costume) and Jon Weston
(sound).
