Kenita R. Miller is The Color Purple's New Celie

On February 20th, Kenita R. Miller will join the cast of The Color Purple as Celie.  Jeannette Bayardelle, who currently plays the role, leaves the show on February 18th.

Miller previously understudied LaChanze in The Color Purple (Miller left the show in November), as well as in Ahrens and Flaherty's Dessa Rose.  She has appeared in national tours of Ragtime and The Civil War, while regional credits include Once On This Island.

The Color Purple also stars Elisabeth Withers-Mendes (as Shug Avery), NaTasha Yvette Williams (as Sofia), Chaz Lamar Shepherd (as Harpo), Darlesia Cearcy (as Nettie), Krisha Marcano (as Squeak) and Alton Fitzgerald-White (as Mister).

The Color Purple, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Alice Walker, recently celebrated its 500th performance at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway), where it began preview performances in New York on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 opened on Thursday, December 1, 2005.

The Color Purple is directed by Gary Griffin, while Marsha Norman (Pulitzer Prize-winner for 'night, Mother, The Secret Garden) wrote the book. The show's score is penned by pop tunesmiths Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. Donald Byrd is The Color Purple's choreographer.

Tickets for The Color Purple may be purchased by visiting www.Telecharge.com, by calling 212-239-6200 or visiting the Broadway Theatre box office.

Visit www.colorpurple.com for more information.

Photo of Kenita R. Miller by Ben Strothmann