The Color Purple Breaks House Record, Advance Reaches $16 Million

The Color Purple set a new house record, grossing $1,394.446.28 for the week ending January 1, 2006 at the Broadway Theatre, besting La Boheme's previous record set three years ago by more than 40%. The Musical has been one of the Top 5 grossing shows on Broadway since a week after its December opening.

The Color Purple'S advance sale has more than tripled from $5million since its November 1st initial preview to $16 million today. Word of mouth has been tremendously strong with both traditional and non-traditional theatergoers and the hit new musical has smashed all sales records at the Broadway Theatre by averaging better than $2 million per week in current and future ticket sales.

Since its opening on December 1, 2005, The Color Purple has played to sold out houses at the Broadway Theatre. Ben Brantley of The New York Times said, "A bright odyssey of survival and triumph with a fairy tale sense of wonder. Purple strikes sparks." "Pure heart! Celebrates the inspiring relationships of faith and love, A Broadway hit!" raved Elysa Gardner from USA Today, Roma Tore at NY1 News stated, "A winner! So full of heart, The Color Purple sings to the soul." and David Rooney at Variety added, "A feel-good high. Genuinely inspirational."

Directed by Gary Griffin, The Color Purple features a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning composers/lyricists Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.

On January 24, 2006, the original cast recording of The Color Purple will be released on Angel Records/EMI nationwide.

The Color Purple is produced on Broadway by Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Quincy Jones, Creative Battery, Anna Fantaci & Cheryl Lachowicz, Independent Presenters Network, Lowy Family Group, Stephanie McClelland, Gary Winnick, Jan Kallish, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Harvey Weinstein, Andrew Asnes & Adam Zotovich and Todd Johnson.