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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 Jun 17, 2018

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

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Customer reviews

19 reviews, average rating: (3.5 Stars)

Denise

Other than that I couldn’t understand what was said or sung

The sound was atrocious. I couldn’t understand much of the dialogue or lyrics. The audience in front of us would respond up to a certain row and after that, crickets. I was already a fan of the book and movie so I was familiar with the story line although I did go to Wikipedia during intermission. I loved the minimalist set and how the chairs were integrated into the staging, which I absolutely loved. I wish I’d seen this revival on Broadway. I would say Don’t Waste Your Money but I got enough out of it to be glad I went. And I want to see the performers and production personnel supported. And the notion that, as spoken by the usher as related in another post, audience members should secure assisted listening devices? C'mon! That’s bogus! ... Read more

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

M. Pierce

Color Purple

Great Show! Wonderful acting, singing and music. Unfortunately, we had difficulty understanding the dialogue and lyrics and at times the music drowned out the singing. In spite of that, it was very enjoyable. ... Read more

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