Greenway Arts Alliance Announces Casting For THE COLOR PURPLE

Greenway Arts Alliance (Whitney Weston and Pierson Blaetz, Co-Founders and Co-Artistic Directors) announced the cast and creative team for the THE COLOR PURPLE, which will play at the Greenway Court Theatre (544 N. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles). Performances run from November 9 through December 9 with the official press opening on Saturday, November 10. The Tony Award-winning musical features a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. Directing and choreographing the cast of 15 is NAACP Theater Award-winner Jeffrey Polk (Smokey Joe's Café).

THE COLOR PURPLE is an inspiring family saga that tells the unforgettable story of a woman who, through love, finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world. This musical adaptation of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (and the popular 1985 Steven Spielberg film) spotlights Celie, a downtrodden young woman whose personal awakening over the course of 40 years forms the arc of this epic story. With a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music and blues, THE COLOR PURPLE is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love and a celebration of life.

The cast of THE COLOR PURPLE features:

Gabrielle Jackson as Celie

Sierra Repertory Theater's Beehive: The 60's Musical as Aretha Franklin

3-D Theatrical's The Full Monty as Estelle Genovese

Moonlight Stage Production's Aida as Nehebka

April Nixon as Shug

Olivier Award-nominee for Best Supporting Actress in

Damn Yankees as Lola (opposite Jerry Lewis)

Broadway: Smokey Joe's Café, Tommy, and Cats

National Tour of 9 to 5

Aaron Braxton as Mister

International Gala Star and NAACP Theater Award for

Best Solo Show - Did You Do Your Homework?

New Vic's Theatre's Jazz adaptation of Porgy and Bess as Robbins

Jeremy Whatley as Harpo

Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center's Sister Act and Ragtime

Dominique Kent as Sofia

Cupcake Theater's Dreamgirls as Effie White

3D Theatricals' Once On This Island

Elizabeth Adabale as Nettie

Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center's Sister Act

Cupcake Theater's Urinetown and Hairspray

Rachel Sarah Mount as Squeak

ABC's The Goldberg's

Childish Gambino's "Awaken, My Love!"

Carol Dennis as Soloist/Church Lady

Originated the role of Soloist/Church Lady (reprised in this production) on Broadway in The Color Purple
Broadway: Big River and The Wiz

Lynette DuPree as Church Lady

Broadway: Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in da Funk

National Tours of The Color Purple and Dreamgirls

Mariah Strickland as Church Lady

Dorothy in Slidell Little Theatre's The Wiz

La Mirada Theatre's The Magic of Christmas

Earnest Carter as Ensemble

HBO's Arli$$

Otis Easter as Ensemble

Ebony Repertory Theatre's The Gospel at Colonus -

Ovation Award for Best Ensemble

Justyn Malik as Ensemble

Cupcake Theater's Dreamgirls

Charles McCoy as Ensemble

Sebastian in Chance Theatre's The Little Mermaid

Jacquelin Schofield as Ensemble

Kentwood Players' Doubt -

NAACP Award-nominee for Best Supporting Female

"THE COLOR PURPLE is story of redemption and empowerment and particularly relevant in today's political climate," said Whitney Weston, Greenway Arts Alliance Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director. "We feel fortunate that Los Angeles theatre veteran, Jeffrey Polk, is on board to bring this powerful story to life on our stage," added Pierson Blaetz, Greenway Arts Alliance Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director.

"I'm so proud of this stellar cast that we put together -- all local and within our community - including the immensely talented Carol Dennis, Lynette DuPree, April Nixon, and Aaron Braxton," said Jeffrey Polk, Director and Choreographer of THE COLOR PURPLE. "I'm also thrilled to be collaborating with internationally renowned composer, pianist, conductor, orchestrator and musical director Patrick Gandy who has worked with such great artists as Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Dianne Reeves. That is just the beginning of the greatness and the talent of this cast and this production team." Polk added, "Together we will tell the story of THE COLOR PURPLE through Alice Walker's novel as we give it the music and life to move the audience. The intimate theater will let you feel that you are right there, so you can see the actors eyes and experience their journey with them."

In addition to director/choreographer Jeffrey Polk, THE COLOR PURPLE creative team includes: music director Patrick Gandy, set designer Christopher Murillo; costume designer Dana Rebecca Woods; lighting designer azra King-Abadi, and sound designer Julie Ferrin.

THE COLOR PURPLE premiered at The ALLIANCE THEATRE Company in Atlanta, Georgia and opened on Broadway on November 1, 2005. It was nominated for eleven 2006 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Original Score. The London off-West End production opened on Broadway in 2015, winning the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

THE COLOR PURPLE will play at Greenway Court Theatre, 544 North Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036. The production will play from November 9 through December 9, 2018; with the official press opening on Saturday, November 10 at 8:00 p.m. Preview performance is on Friday, November 9 at 8:00 p.m. Preview prices for general admission are $25 and Student/Senior prices are $10. The regular performance schedule is Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 4:00 p.m. Regular performance ticket prices for general admission are $40 and Student/Senior prices are $20. THE COLOR PURPLE is also available through Greenway Arts Alliance 2018|2019 Season Subscription packages starting at $50. Subscription and single tickets are available online at GreenwayCourtTheatre.org/THECOLORPURPLE.

For more information call 323-673-0544 or visit GreenwayCourtTheatre.org. Free parking is available in the lot on Fairfax and Clinton, directly adjacent to the theatre. The parking lot is shared with other events, please allow for ample time to park.

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