'Bubba' Knight and Lecrecsia Campbell Join THE COLOR PURPLE, 8/23-26

Source of Joy Theatricals, the producers of the Broadway smash hit THE COLOR PURPLE have announced the Las Vegas Theatre debut August 23 - August 26, 2012 as a special presentation in honor of National Women's Equality Month.

Nominated for eleven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, THE COLOR PURPLE opened on December 1, 2005 at the Broadway Theatre where it ran for over two record-breaking years. It is based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the moving film by Steven Spielberg. It is the unforgettable and inspiring story of a woman named Celie, who finds the strength to triumph over adversity, and discover her unique voice in the world. With a joyous GRAMMY-nominated score featuring gospel, jazz, pop and the blues, THE COLOR PURPLE is about hope and the healing power of love.

The Las Vegas production of THE COLOR PURPLE is directed by Torrey Russell and Musically Directed by Megan Schnizlein. The show 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, Choreography by Avree Walker, costumes by Preston Coghill and set design by Henry "BJ" Jackson.

Broadway in the Hood's THE COLOR PURPLE will star Grammy Award Winner Bubba Knight of Gladys Knight & The Pips, and Gospel Sensation Lecricea Campbell. With Broadway Diva Anika Ellis reprising the role of Shug Avery and taking on the reign as Assistant Director of the 2012 cast of Broadway in the Hood. The production will feature Tianna "Falcon" Lewis in the role of Celie.

THE COLOR PURPLE will play The West Las Vegas Theatre August 23-August 26, 2012: Thursday - Friday at 7:00PM, Saturday at 1:30PM, and Sunday at 1:30PM.

Tickets are free and the show is open to the public. Due to the limited number of seats available, tickets will be issued 2 hours prior to each performance starting time at the theatre box office. Each guest can receive up to 2 tickets a piece. Please note: due to the nature of show, children under the age of 13 will not be permitted in the theatre.

For more information about THE COLOR PURPLE, visit www.thecolorpurplelasvegas.com.

A Source of Joy Theatricals, Inc., producers of "Broadway in the Hood", is a National Theatre program with its home office in Las Vegas, Nevada. A Source of Joy Theatricals is dedicated to making a positive impact on communities across the United States, with a special focus on youth between 8 - 20 years of age residing in the worst of neighborhoods; plagued with violence, gangs, drugs, murder, suicide, racism, rape, and everything that one could imagine.

A Source of Joy Theatricals offers educational and cultural opportunities to a multitude of America's future leaders and has gained the attention and support of city, state and government officials, notable celebrities, the NAACP and the American Theatre Wing. Since its inception 2 1/2 years ago they have produced major productions dealing with everything from teen pregnancy, interracial dating, childhood obesity, homelessness, homosexuality, bullying and slavery, as well as our last production which received rave reviews: The Best of Broadway, a musical review celebrating 10 of the biggest and best Broadway musicals.

Broadway in the Hood applies the same standards of excellence to its programs that is applied to professional theatres all across the country. Professional directors, choreographers, technicians and master chefs train the cast and crew of each show. Participation and performances are FREE, making this program accessible to all, approximately 10,000 people a year just in Nevada alone, representing all socio-economic backgrounds and diverse communities.

The program has received no government funding to date and are ALWAYS in need of monetary donations, as well as in-kind gifts, clothing items for our productions, as well as fundraising opportunities.

Fred Astaire once described his dancing and performing talents as extraordinary. His sister, Gladys Knight, once said of him, "he is a born showman. The man has talent…" (Ebony Magazine, 11/1982). And, for over 59 years, the singing and dancing talent, boundless energy, humorous delivery style of Merald "Bubba" Knight Jr. continues to thrill and delight audiences worldwide.

Bubba is a founding member of "The Pips" (1952) aka Gladys Knight and The Pips (GK & P's). Born in Atlanta, GA, Bubba's musical talent was nurtured by his parents, Elizabeth Woods Knight and Merald W. Knight Sr. "The Pips" were 'born' at Bubba's 10th birthday party. The group was composed of his sisters, Brenda and Gladys, and his cousins, Eleanor and William Guest. His older cousin "Pip" (James Woods) became the group's first manager and whom they named themselves for. After high school, Brenda and Eleanor left the group and were replaced by (cousin) Edward Patten and Langston George. Langston left the group in 1961.The remaining quartet would perform together until 1989.

As recording artists for various record labels, i.e. Buddah and Motown, GK & P's rose to the top of the Rhythm and Blues/Pop music arenas during the 60's, 70's and 80's with hits like Every Beat of My Heart, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, If I were Your Woman, Neither One of Us, The Best Thing, Nitty Gritty, Imagination, Midnight Train, Save the Overtime and Love Overboard. "The Pips" became celebrated for their 3 part harmonies, smooth precision choreography and sophisticated costuming. In 1976, the group recorded a movie soundtrack, "Claudine", produced by Curtis Mayfield, which earned them a Gold Album, a Gold Single for "On and On" (co-written by Merald "Bubba" Knight) and an Academy Award nomination. During one of Gladys' early hiatuses from show business, "The Pips" recorded several singles, most notably "Darling" and "Linda" and continued to perform to keep their name "alive". In 1977, "The Pips" recorded two albums, called "At Last…The Pips" and "Calling" for Casablanca Records.

Bubba has appeared with GK & P's/and "The Pips" in hundreds of television shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, American Bandstand, Soul Train, Murphy Brown, The Today Show, The Flip Wilson Show and The Richard Pryor Show. In 1975, G K & P's hosted their own TV show, a summer variety series, on NBC. Bubba also hosted Turner South's "Liars and Legends", an Emmy award-winning original TV series (2002-04), and co-hosted, with his son Craig, the talk show, "Smooth Vegas Knights" (2006).

GK& P's are winners of a Platinum Album, 5 Gold Albums, 10 Gold Singles, 5 Grammy Awards, 6 American Music Awards, 2 NAACP Image Awards, 2 Ebony Black Achiever Awards, The Essence Award, A Clio (prestigious advertising award), The American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) Entertainer of the Year Award for Best Vocal Group (the George M. Cohen award), and numerous others. They have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame, Georgia Music Hall of Fame and are recipients of the Rhythm and Blues Foundations "Pioneer Lifetime Achievement Award".

In 1989, Gladys became a solo act and The Pips retired. Later, Bubba returned to the stage as a "special guest artist" on Gladys' touring show. In 2000, he became a "featured cast member' in the Las Vegas production of the Broadway play, "Smokey Joe's Café" at Caesars Palace and in 2001 joined the play's US Touring Company. From 2002-05, Bubba appeared as the "special guest artist on "The Gladys Knight Show" at the Flamingo Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas, at the Tropicana Hotel/Casino from March until October of 2011 and continues to tour with Gladys to date.

When not performing, Bubba believes in "giving back". He is a avid supporter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, The Links, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, KCEP/all public radio and The ADA- Elizabeth Knight Foundation and other community service groups. He is also a sports enthusiast running marathons, playing softball, tennis and golf. He is married to Kathleen Turner Knight, is the father of Valesia Knight-Durham, Merald W. Knight III and Craig A. Knight, is the grandfather of 12 and great-grandfather of 5.

Actress, Singer, Worshipper are words that best describe Lecresia Campbell. As a child, Lecresia wanted to be a school teacher. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Applied Voice from Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi, Ms. Campbell taught elementary school for 8 years.

Ms. Campbell took a leave of absence to pursue her passion. After recording her rendition of "Perfect Praise (How Excellent)," which took the nation by storm, Lecresia became a background vocalist for Vanessa Bell Armstrong and later shared the stage as a solo artist with singers such as Larnelle Harris, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Gerald Levert, Stephanie Mills, and a host of others.

Lecresia began captivating audiences in musical plays such as Dreamgirls, in which she starred as Effie. She performed in two of David Talbert's hit shows Mr. Right Now and His Woman, His Wife. Both productions toured the country performing to sold out audience for 3 years. She recently played TV Judge Mathis' mother in Tell it to the Judge.

In between theatrical performances, Ms. Campbell returns to her singing. Lecresia recorded her first solo project entitled, Even Me, became another national sensation and earned her a Stellar Award nomination for Best Female Vocalist (traditional).

Lecresia has been a regular on Trinity Broad Casting Network (TBN) with Tommy Tenney, author of The God Chasers, and Bishop Eddie Long, pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Ms. Campbell had the number five spot on the chart with the hit Magnify from the Gospel Heritage Praise and Worship project and currently is working on the DVD of Lecresia Campbell's Greatest Hits.

 

 

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