The Color Purple
The Color Purple has been born again... The current version is a slim, fleet-footed beauty, simply attired and beguilingly modest. Don't be deceived, though, by its air of humility. There's a deep wealth of power within its restraint.
Ben Brantley, The New York Times
Why see The Color Purple?
The Tony & Grammy Winner Takes To The Road!
The Tony & Grammy-winning 2015 revival The Color Purple arrives in your town for this acclaimed national tour. This iconic story follows Celie, a young woman living in early 1900s America. Both heart-warming and heart-wrenching, you'll find yourself moved by her tale as much as you are by the show's incredible music.
The 2015 Broadway production won two Tony Awards including the coveted Best Revival of a Musical, after being nominated for four awards. It went on to run for just over a year, closing in early 2017, and earned Broadway newcomer Cynthia Erivo her first-ever Tony Award for her leading role of Cecile. The musical also picked up the Grammy Award for Best Cast Album.
WHAT IS THE COLOR PURPLE ABOUT?
Set in the early 1900s, The Color Purple centers on the life of Celie, a young black girl living in rural Georgia. Her father Alphonso is abusive, and has fathered two children by his daughter, both of whom he has 'got rid of'. Celie is then married off to the unloving 'Mister', a local farmer, who treats her as nothing more than a household slave. In the midst of all this hardship comes Shug Avery, a local lounge singer with none too saintly a reputation, who befriends Celie and gives her the belief to battle against the odds, and change her life for the better.
Did you know?
The Color Purple is one the most critically acclaimed book-to-film-to-stage adaptations of recent times! The 1982 novel won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction as well as the National Book Award, the 1985 film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, and the first Broadway production (which ran at the Broadway Theatre from 2005 to 2008) was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, of which it won 'Best Actress'.
Key Information
Audience
May not be suitable for younger audiences members due to adult themes
Run Time
Two hours and 25 minutes including one intermission
Dates
Finished May 14, 2020
Cast
Mariah Lyttle as Celie
Sandi Lee as Shug Avery
Chedra Arielle as Sofia
Andrew Malone as Mister
Milika Cheree as Nettie
Brandon A. Wright as Harpo
Elizabeth Adabale, Jarrett Anthony Bennett, David Holbert, Parris Lewis, Jenay Naima, Mon'Quez Deon Pippins, Gabriella Rodriguez, Shelby A. Sykes, Ivan Thompson, Renee Titus, Cartreze Tucker, Jeremy Whatley, Gerard M. Williams
Creative
Music by Brenda Russell and Allee Willis
Lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray
Book by Marsha Norman
Awards
2016 Tony Award Wins
Best Revival of a Musical
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical - Cynthia Erivo
2016 Tony Award Nominations
Best Revival of a Musical
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical - Cynthia Erivo
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical - Danielle Brooks
Best Direction of a Musical - John Doyle
2016 Drama Desk Award Wins
Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Cynthia Erivo
Outstanding Director of a Musical - John Doyle
2017 Grammy Award Wins
Best Musical Theater Album
Reviews
Our review
Empowering, beautiful, moving!
The book leaves the audience feeling empowered and hopeful for change. The music and lyrics are beautiful and we felt the shifts and changes of Celie's journey!
Nicola Quinn
Customer reviews
19 reviews, average rating: (3.5 Stars)
Heather
Riveting Performances!
I saw this performance in Sacramento at Music Circus this afternoon. It was INCREDIBLE! Angela Wildflower as Celie was absolutely riveting: real, vulnerable, engaging. Our whole audience was sucked in from the first lines until the encore. The story was told with gentleness, but still had dark undertones. Sofia (played by Amma Osei) was a delightful break from the seriousness and has the most beautiful, deep, belting alto. When Celie realizes at the end that she is worth something and sings that she is beautiful just the way she is, she brought down the house! There wasn't a dry eye in the room! It reminded me about the power of musical theater to tell a story and make people feel transported. BRAVO TO THE CAST, every last one! ... Read more
Don Royal
Amazing Singers
Singers were amazing.The show stayed close to
the movie and book with some slight twists
towards the end that were definitely
interesting. Overall the wife and I really
enjoyed it and as I mentioned the singers were
amazing. ... Read more
Gwendolyne Lovett
The Color Purple
My daughter, took me on Mother's Day. I
read the book, years before the movie came
out. Jennifer Houston and the whole cast
was excellent. I am going to Boston, to see it,
I can look at the play over 20 times and
never get sick of it. I first went and seen it,
on Broadway in New York. Please go see it,
you will be glad. We were seated in the 2nd
row. It's worth it, no disappointments, I
talked about it for months. For dinner before
the play, we want to Sylvia's, the famous
Soul Food, restaurant, in New York. I can't
thank you enough, my daughter, Alisha, for
my Mother's Day, I will never forget it. Love
you. ... Read more
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