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The Color Purple

The Color Purple

by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray and Marsha Norman

Based on a Film
Based on a Book
Drama
LGBTQ-Related
Written by Black Artist

Playing at a Theatre Near You

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The Color Purple

About the Musical

The Color Purple





Based on the 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, this dramatic musical shows the early-20th century plight of African Americans in the southern United States.


Story:

In the early 1900s in rural Georgia, Celie is a teenager giving birth for the second time. When her father offers her to a local farmer in need of a woman to raise his children, she is torn from her beloved younger sister and begins to learn about the world outside her family’s humble residence. As years pass by, Celie becomes resigned to her unfortunate lot in life, but when newcomers Sofia and Shug enter and bring their fresh perspective, she begins to understand that there must be more to life.


Get Tickets for the Musical The Latest News About the Show Reviews for the Most Recent Broadway Run Apply for Production Rights Visit the Official Website View Song Lyrics



Cast and Creative Team

Composer

Composer and Lyricist
Brenda Russell

Composer

Composer and Lyricist
Allee Willis

Composer

Composer and Lyricist
Stephen Bray

Librettist

Librettist
Marsha Norman



Broadway Premiere

Theatre
Broadway Theatre
Opening Night
Dec 1, 2005
Total Performances
910
Original Cast
LaChanze, Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, Felicia P. Fields, Darlesia Cearcy, Kingsley Leggs, Brandon Victor Dixon, Krisha Marcano
Director
Gary Griffin
Choreographer
Donald Byrd
Producer
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
Musical Director
Linda Twine
Orchestrations
Jonathan Tunick
Scenic Design
John Lee Beatty
Costume Design
Paul Tazewell
Lighting Design
Brian MacDevitt
Sound Design
Jon Weston

2015 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
Opening Night
Dec 10, 2015
Total Performances
450
Original Cast
Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Hudson, Danielle Brooks, Isaiah Johnson, Joaquina Kalukango, Kyle Scatliffe, Phoenix Best, Dwayne Clark, Lawrence Clayton, Carrie Compere, Patrice Covington, Adrianna Hicks, Bre Jackson, Grasan Kingsberry, Kevyn Morrow, Ken Robinson, Antoine L. Smith, Carla R. Stewart, Akron Watson, and Rema Webb
Director and Designer
John Doyle
Producer
Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Oprah Winfrey, David Babani, Tom Siracusa
Orchestrations
Joseph Joubert
Scenic Design
Costume Design
Ann Hould-Ward
Lighting Design
Jane Cox
Sound Design
Gregory Clarke

1985 Film Version

Movie Name
The Color Purple
Type
Non-Musical
Director
Steven Spielberg
Screenplay
Menno Meyjes
Starring
Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey, Willard E. Pugh, Akosua Busia, Desreta Jackson, Adolph Caesar, Rae Dawn Chong, Dana Ivey, Leonard Jackson, Bennet Guillory, John Patton Jr., Carl Anderson, Susan Beaubian

Songs, Videos, Sheetmusic and More

Musical Numbers
Huckleberry Pie/Mysterious Ways
Somebody Gonna Love You
Our Prayer
That Fine Mister
Big Dog
Lily of the Field
Dear God
A Tree Named Sofia
Hell No!
Brown Betty
Shug Avery Comin' to Town
All We've Got to Say
Too Beautiful for Words
Push Da Button
Uh Oh!
What About Love
African Homeland
The Color Purple
I Curse You Mister
Miss Celie's Pants
Any Little Thing
I'm Here
Click on a song name to listen/purchase it on iTunes





CDs

CD
Original Broadway Cast Album
CD
2015 Broadway Revival Cast Album

Sheetmusic

Sheetmusic
Original Vocal Selections
Sheetmusic
2015 Vocal Selections

Videos

DVD
Original Hollywood Version DVD
Blu-Ray
Two-Disk Special Edition Original Hollywood Version DVD
Blu-Ray
Original Hollywood Version Blu-Ray

Books

Book
The Color Purple: A Memory Book
Book
Novel by Alice Walker

Other

Merchandise




Awards and Reviews

2016 Tony Award Nominations

Best Revival of a Musical
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical - Cynthia Erivo
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical - Danielle Brooks
Best Director of a Musical

2016 Drama Desk Award Nominations

Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Cynthia Erivo
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Danielle Brooks
Outstanding Orchestrations
Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical

2016 Drama League Award Nominations

Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical
Distinguished Performance Award - Cynthia Erivo
Distinguished Performance Award - Jennifer Hudson

2016 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations

Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Cynthia Erivo
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Danielle Brooks

2016 Theatre World Award Nominations

Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance - Danielle Brooks
Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance - Cynthia Erivo

2007 Grammy Award Nominations

Best Musical Show Album

2006 Tony Award Nominations

Best Actress in a Musical - LaChanze
Best Musical
Best Book of a Musical
Best Original Score
Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Brandon Victor Dixon
Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Felicia P. Fields
Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Elisabeth Withers-Mendes
Best Choreography
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Best Lighting Design of a Musical

2006 Theatre World Award Nominations

Felicia P. Fields
Elisabeth Withers-Mendes

2006 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations

Outstanding Broadway Musical
Outstanding New Score
Outstanding Set Design
Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical - LaChanze
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Elisabeth Withers-Mendes

2006 Drama League Award Nominations

Distinguished Production of a Musical
Distinguished Performance Award - Felicia P. Fields
Distinguished Performance Award - LaChanze

2007 Theatre World Award Nominations

Fantasia Barrino

2007 Grammy Award Nominations

Best Musical Show Album

2024 Chita Rivera Award Nominations

Outstanding Choreography in a Theatrical Release

Your Reviews: Do You Love It or Loathe It?

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