The Color Purple Auditions
Direction by Candy McLellan
Music Direction by Ann-Carol Pence
Assistant Music Direction by Chanel Bailey
Choreography by Pytron Parker
“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.
General Information
Theatre Address: 128 E Pike Street, Lawrenceville GA , 30046
Parking Deck Address: 25 N Clayton St, Lawrenceville GA, 30046
First Rehearsal: July 20, 2024
Opening Night: August 15, 2024
(Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8PM, Saturday & Sunday at 2:30PM. 10AM on Wednesday 8/21)
Closing Night: September 8, 2024 (possible extension to 9/15)
Audition Information
March 23, 2024 | 11AM – 9PM
Virtual Submission: Submissions due by March 24, EOD.
Audition Request: Requests due by March 21, EOD.
Callbacks:
March 25, 2024 | 1:30PM – 9:30PM
March 26, 2024 | 1:30PM – 9:30PM
March 27, 2024 | 3PM – 10PM
Movement calls will be held during callbacks.
We will accept video submissions if you are not available during these dates, but strongly encourage artists to audition in person.
Click down below to register for an audition slot:
Virtual Audition
Audition Slot Request
We will do our best to confirm receipt of your submission within 48 hours or 2 business days.
Breakdowns
Prepare the music and book side(s) for the role for which you’d like to be considered. Only one book side and one music side is required for initial auditions. If called back, please be prepared to learn and perform a short movement call and prepare the rest of the materials in the folder for the characters for which you’ve been called back.
Celie
Drives the story. Vulnerable, spirited, introverted, mischievous, seemingly passive but really not, has a deep, hard soul, believes that she is ugly, has a sense of humor which is sometimes wicked. She is an observer. Needs a great belt singing voice with lots of soul.
Shug Avery
A popular singer, we meet her at death’s door. Attractive, confident, dynamic, powerful, irresistible, but has a frailty, like a wounded animal. Her vulnerability is shocking later on. She is loved by both Celie and Mister. Needs a knockout, Bessie Smith-style, bluesy singing voice.
Mister
Like Celie, a deep well. Handsome, big, masculine, strong presence, dominating, capable of brutal behavior but also a victim in his own way. Gets his power for free. Married to Celie, he abuses her. He is in love with Shug. He transforms to a kind man by the end of the story. Needs a great singing voice.
Sofia
Powerful warrior woman. Physically bigger and beautiful. Comfortable being large, great sense of humor, touching, vulnerable. Married to Harpo, she does not let anyone mistreat her. Needs comic chops. Needs a great belt singing voice.
Nettie
Celie’s younger sister. Attractive, adventuresome, feisty spirit, maternal, educatedand knowledgeable. She has a powerful bond with Celie. Forced by Mister to leave Celie, she starts a new life in Africa. Needs a strong belting voice with improv skills.
Harpo
Mister’s vulnerable, confused, good-hearted son. Represents the new generation. He marries the independent Sofia. He spends much time trying to get Sofia to obey him the way Celie obeys his father, but he is unsuccessful, as Sofia is considerably stronger than he is. Harpo eventually establishes a jukejoint in his first house and becomes Squeak’s lover. Later, he and Sofia reconcile. Through his love of Sofia, he learns how to love a woman. Needs a great tenor singing voice.
Squeak/Ensemble
Harpo’s lover after Sofia leaves him. Although she is mistreated, she eventually undergoes a transformation, demanding to be called by her actual name, Mary Agnes, and starting a new life. She is of mixed ancestry. Attractive, sassy, fiery, strong-willed, unafraid to take anybody on, has a caring heart. Needs comic chops. Needs a great singing voice with belt and soprano capability.
Ensemble
All types and singing ranges. Need fantastic singing voices and dynamic personalities. To play various roles in the ensemble. The ensemble includes a trio known as Church Ladies, busybody types who are featured throughout the show. Other ensemble roles include MISTER’S DAUGHTER, HENRIETTA; CHURCH SOLOIST/CHURCH LADY, DORIS; CHURCH LADY, DARLENE; CHURCH LADY, JARENE; DAISY; PREACHER; PRISON GUARD; PA; OL’ MISTER; BUSTER; CHIEF; GRADY; BOBBY; OLIVIA; ADAM
Videos