New York Times Critic Teases THE COLOR PURPLE Review in 2015 'Best of' Roundup

Broadway's The Color Purple doesn't officially open until this Thursday, December 10, but New York Times theatre critic Ben Brantley couldn't wait to rave about the show. The writer teased his opinion before the big night in his 2015 "Best of" roundup.

Ranking the show No. 9 on his list, Brantley waxed: "A makeover made in heaven. The director John Doyle has slimmed down, toned up and retailored a show that seemed leaden and garish in its original Broadway incarnation 10 years ago. This musical version of Alice Walker's celebrated novel now blazes as a triumph of elemental, emotional storytelling, with the bonus of a star-making performance from Cynthia Erivo and blissful support from Jennifer Hudson and Danielle Brooks. (Runner-up for best reinvention of a musical: the Fiasco Theater's spectacularly imaginative "Into the Woods.")"

The Color Purple is currently in previews at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th street). Grammy, Academy Award, and Golden Globe award winner Jennifer Hudson makes her Broadway debut opposite Cynthia Erivo, the breakout star of John Doyle's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production, and Orange is the New Black's Danielle Brooks, in this fall's highly anticipated production. All three women will be making their Broadway debuts.

Based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize winning novel and the Warner Bros. / Amblin Entertainment motion picture, The Color Purple is adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize and Tony award winner MarSha Norman, with music and lyrics by Grammy award winners Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.

THE COLOR PURPLE is an unforgettable story of enduring love and triumph over adversity. With a fresh, joyous score of jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, this stirring family chronicle follows the inspirational Celie, as she journeys from childhood through joy and despair, anguish and hope to discover the power of love and life.

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