MusicalDramaOriginalBroadway
Opening Date
Dec 01, 2005
Closing Date
Feb 24, 2008
1st Preview
Nov 01, 2005
1st Preview
Nov 01, 2005
Previews
30
Performances
910
MusicalDramaOriginalBroadway
External Links
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ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION

Theatres
Broadway Theatre
(Dec 01, 2005 - Feb 24, 2008)
Theatre Owned / Operated by The Shubert Organization (Gerald Schoenfeld: Chairman; Philip J. Smith: President; Robert E. Wankel: Executive Vice President)
Produced by Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Quincy Jones, Creative Battery, Anna Fantaci, Cheryl Lachowicz, Independent Presenters Network, David Lowy, Stephanie McClelland, Gary Winnick, Jan Kallish, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Andrew Asnes, Adam Zotovich and Todd Johnson
World Premiere Produced by The Alliance Theatre Company
Book by Marsha Norman; Lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray; Music by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray; Musical Director: Linda Twine; Based on the novel by Alice Walker; Music orchestrated by Jonathan Tunick; Dance arrangements by Daryl Waters; Based on the motion picture by Warner Brothers and Amblin Entertainment Inc.; Incidental Music Arrangements: Kevin Stites; Additional Arrangements: Joseph Joubert
Directed by Gary Griffin; Choreographed by Donald Byrd; Associate Director: Nona Lloyd
Scenic Design by John Lee Beatty; Lighting Design by Brian MacDevitt; Costume Design by Paul Tazewell; Sound Design by Jon Weston; Hair Design by Charles G. LaPointe; Associate Scenic Design: Eric Renschler; Assistant Scenic Design: Yoshi Tanokura; Associate Costume Design: Michael McAleer; Assistant Costume Design: Dennis Ballard and Christine Field; Associate Lighting Design: Mark T. Simpson and Jennifer Schriever; Assistant Lighting Design: Benjamin Travis; Associate Sound Design: Jason Strangfeld; Automated Lighting Programmer: David Arch; Make-Up Design by Angelina Avallone
General Manager: Nina Lannan & Associates and Amy Beth Jacobs; Company Manager: Kimberly Kelley; Assistant Co. Mgr: Doug Gaeta
Production Manager: Arthur Siccardi and Patrick Sullivan; Production Stage Manager: Kristen Harris; Stage Manager: Glynn David Turner; Assistant Stage Mgr: Neveen Mahmoud
Musical Supervisor: Kevin Stites; Conducted by Linda Twine; Associate Conductor: Joseph Joubert; Trumpets: Barry Danielian, Brian O'Flaherty and Kamau Adilifu; Trombones: Larry Farrell and Jason Jackson; Woodwinds: Les Scott, Lawrence Feldman and Jay Brandford; Keyboards: Joseph Joubert and Shelton Becton; Drums/Percussion: Buddy Williams and Damien Bassman; Guitar: Steve Bargonetti; Bass: Ben Brown; Violins: Paul Woodiel and Mineko Yajima; Viola: David Creswell; Cello: Clay C. Ruede; Music Contractor: Seymour 'Red' Press; Copyists: Emily Grishman Music Preparation; Synthesizer Programmer: Bruce Samuels; Music Department Assistant: Nathan Kelly
Casting: Bernard Telsey Casting, Inc.; Press Representative: Carol R. Fineman and Barlow-Hartman Public Relations; Marketing: TMG - The Marketing Group; Dance Captain: Stephanie Guiland-Brown; Asst. to the Choreographer: Ruthlyn Salomons; Fight direction by J. Steven White; Fight Captain: James Brown III; Advertising: SPOTCo, Inc.; Photographer: Joan Marcus and Paul Kolnik; Dialect Coach: Deborah Hecht; Assistant Dance Captain: Jamal Story; Website Design & Online Marketing Strategy: Situation Marketing, Damian Bazadona, Ian Bennett and Sara Fitzpatrick
LaChanze
Celie
Nov 01, 2005 - Nov 05, 2006
Brandon Victor Dixon
Harpo
Felicia P. Fields
Sofia
Renée Elise Goldsberry
Nettie
Kingsley Leggs
Mister
Nov 01, 2005 - Nov 05, 2006
Krisha Marcano
Squeak
Elisabeth Withers-Mendes
Broadway Debut
Shug Avery
Nov 01, 2005 - Jan 31, 2008
James Brown III
Bobby
 
Ensemble
LaTrisa A. Coleman
Ensemble
Carol Dennis
Church Soloist
 
Ensemble
Anika Ellis
Ensemble
Doug Eskew
Preacher
 
Ensemble
Zipporah G. Gatling
Young Celie
 
Ensemble
 
Mister Daughter
 
Young Olivia
 
Henrietta
Charles Gray
Ensemble
James Harkness
Ensemble
Francesca Harper
Ensemble
Kimberly Ann Harris
Broadway Debut
Church Lady / Doris
 
Ensemble
Chantylla Johnson
Broadway Debut
Young Nettie
 
Ensemble
 
Mister Daughter
 
Chief's Daughter
Grasan Kingsberry
Older Adam
 
Ensemble
J. C. Montgomery
Pa
 
Grady
 
Ensemble
Lou Myers
Ol' Mister
Nov 01, 2005 - Nov 05, 2006
 
Ensemble
Angela Robinson
Ensemble
Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines
Older Olivia
 
Ensemble
Nathaniel Stampley
Buster
 
Ensemble
 
Chief
Jamal Story
Broadway Debut
Ensemble
Leon G. Thomas III
Young Harpo
 
Ensemble
 
Young Adam
Maia Nkenge Wilson
Church Lady / Jarene
 
Ensemble
 
Daisy
Virginia Ann Woodruff
Church Lady / Darlene
 
Ensemble
Swings: Jeannette I. Bayardelle , Eric L. Christian , Bobby Daye , Stephanie Guiland-Brown and Corinne McFarlane
Understudies: Jeannette I. Bayardelle (Celie, Nettie), James Brown III (Harpo), Carol Dennis (Sofia), Anika Ellis (Shug Avery), Charles Gray (Mister), Francesca Harper (Squeak), Kimberly Ann Harris (Sofia), Kenita R. Miller (Celie, Nettie), J. C. Montgomery (Mister), Angela Robinson (Shug Avery) and Nathaniel Stampley (Harpo)

Broadway Theatre (Dec 01, 2005 - Feb 24, 2008)

Company Manager: Tony Magner; Assistant Co. Mgr: Elizabeth M. Talmadge (Jan 03, 2008 - Feb 24, 2008)
Assistant Stage Mgr: Kelly Stillwell; Production Stage Manager: Lisa Dawn Cave (Dec 09, 2006 - May 27, 2007)
Press Assistant: Leslie Baden

Cast

Fantasia Barrino
Broadway Debut
Celie
Apr 10, 2007 - Jan 06, 2008
Jeannette I. Bayardelle
Celie
Nov 07, 2006 - Feb 18, 2007
Shelby Braxton-Brooks
Broadway Debut
Ensemble
circa. Mar 2007 - ?
Darlesia Cearcy
Nettie
Jan 17, 2006 - Jan 06, 2008
Charlotte Crossley
Church Lady / Doris
circa. Mar 2007 - ?
 
Ensemble
circa. Mar 2007 - ?
Gavin Gregory
Buster
 
Chief
 
Ensemble
Stephanie Guiland-Brown
Broadway Debut
Ensemble
Todrick D. Hall
Bobby
 
Ensemble
Rosena M. Hill
Church Lady / Darlene
circa. Mar 2007 - ?
 
Ensemble
circa. Mar 2007 - ?
Chauncey Jenkins
Ensemble
LaKisha Jones
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday Matinees
Church Soloist
Dec 19, 2007 - ?
 
Sofia
Jan 09, 2008 - ?
Alternate
Chaka Khan
Sofia
Jan 09, 2008 - ?
Zonya Love
Broadway Debut
Celie
Jan 09, 2008 - Feb 24, 2008
Larry Marshall
Ol' Mister
Nov 07, 2006 - ?
Kenya Unique Massey
Ensemble
circa. Mar 2007 - ?
Marla McReynolds
Broadway Debut
Ensemble
circa. Mar 2007 - ?
Kenita R. Miller
Celie
Feb 20, 2007 - Apr 08, 2007
Jenny Mollet
Mister Daughter
 
Young Olivia
 
Henrietta
 
Ensemble
Angela Robinson
Shug Avery
Feb 01, 2008 - Feb 24, 2008
Chaz Lamar Shepherd
Broadway Debut
Harpo
circa. Mar 2007 - ?
Levensky Smith
Ensemble
circa. Mar 2007 - ?
 
Older Adam
Ricky Smith
Broadway Debut
Young Harpo
 
Young Adam
Daniel J. Watts
Ensemble
Mar 13, 2007 - Jun 10, 2007
 
Bobby
Mar 13, 2007 - Jun 10, 2007
Alton Fitzgerald White
Mister
Nov 07, 2006 - ?
NaTasha Yvette Williams
Broadway Debut
Sofia
circa. Mar 2007 - ?
Be Be Winans
Harpo
Jan 09, 2008 - ?
Swings: Deidra H. Brooks , LaVon Fisher-Wilson , Ashley Renee Jordan , Kemba Shannon , Teresa Stanley and Daniel J. Watts
Understudies: Deidra H. Brooks (Shug Avery), Darlesia Cearcy (Celie), Doug Eskew (Ol' Mister), Montego Glover (Celie, Nettie), Gavin Gregory (Harpo), Todrick D. Hall (Harpo), Ashley Renee Jordan (Young Harpo, Young Adam ), Jenny Mollet (Young Harpo, Young Adam ) and Saycon Sengbloh (Nettie, Celie)
music by Allee Willis, Brenda Russell and Stephen Bray; lyrics by Allee Willis, Brenda Russell and Stephen Bray
Act 1
Sung By
Huckleberry Pie
Young Celie and 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 and Shug Avery
Act 2
Sung By
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 and Sofia
I'm Here
Celie
The Color Purple (Reprise)
Celie, Nettie and Company

Tony Award®

 

Best Musical

2006 Nominee
Produced by Oprah Winfrey , Scott Sanders , Roy Furman , Quincy Jones , Creative Battery , Anna Fantaci , Cheryl Lachowicz , Independent Presenters Network , David Lowy , Stephanie McClelland , Gary Winnick , Jan Kallish , Nederlander Presentations, Inc. , Bob Weinstein , Harvey Weinstein , Andrew Asnes , Adam Zotovich and Todd Johnson
 

Best Book of a Musical

2006 Nominee
Book by Marsha Norman
 

Best Original Score

2006 Nominee
Lyrics by Brenda Russell , Allee Willis and Stephen Bray
Music by Brenda Russell , Allee Willis and Stephen Bray

Best Actress in a Musical

2006 Winner
LaChanze
 

Best Featured Actor in a Musical

2006 Nominee
Brandon Victor Dixon
 

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

2006 Nominee
Felicia P. Fields
Elisabeth Withers-Mendes
 

Best Choreography

2006 Nominee
Choreographed by Donald Byrd
 

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

2006 Nominee
Scenic Design by John Lee Beatty
 

Best Costume Design of a Musical

2006 Nominee
Costume Design by Paul Tazewell
 

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

2006 Nominee
Lighting Design by Brian MacDevitt

Theatre World

Award

2007 Recipient
Fantasia Barrino

Award

2006 Recipient
Elisabeth Withers-Mendes and Felicia P. Fields
Season:
View Graph
Week Ending Gross % Gross Pot. Attendance % Capacity # Previews # Perf.
Statistics supplied are courtesy of The Broadway League.
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