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The Color Purple 2005

Run Time:
Two hours and 40 minutes with one intermission
Opened: December 1, 2005
Closing: February 24, 2008

The Color Purple - 2005 Broadway History , Info & More

Based on the novel by Alice Walker and the Warner Brothers/Amblin Entertainment film

A teenager gives birth to two of her father's children and then is married off to a man who sought her sister. The man convinces the sisters' father to separate the two and makes sure they never communicate by intercepting letters between them. Abused and alone, the heroine struggles to find her identity and love.


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'Color Purple' Tour Begins in Pittsburgh
by BWW News Desk - March 26, 2008


Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders and the producing team of the Broadway smash hit The Color Purple are proud to announce that tickets for the first North American Touring production of The Color Purple in Pittsburgh will go on sale Monday, April 7, 2008 at 9 a.m. The Color Purple will run for two-weeks as part of the Pittsburgh CLO's 2008 Summer Season June 3 - June 15, 2008 at the Benedum Center.

TV: Color Purple's Stephanie St James Raises Awareness
by James Sims - March 26, 2008


Following a personal battle with the disease Endometriosis, The Color Purple's Stephanie St. James is now actively raising awareness of the serious condition that often goes undiagnosed in women and girls. BroadwayWorld's own James Sims spoke with St. James at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, speaking to the actress about The Color Purple as well as giving her an opportunity to address her personal struggles as March is Endometriosis Awareness Month.

Photo Coverage: Chaka Khan Portrait Unveiled at Tony's
by Peter James Zielinski - February 22, 2008


TV Exclusive: Look Back at Composing The Color Purple
by James Sims - February 18, 2008


With the production coming to a close in New York, BroadwayWorld's own James Sims caught up with The Color Purple's composers/lyricits Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, in Los Angeles, to discuss how the pair, along with Brenda Russell and Marsha Norman (libretto), turned a Pulitzer Prize winning novel and Oscar nominated film into a Broadway musical...

Angela Robinson is Shug while Withers-Mendes is On-Leave
by BWW News Desk - January 29, 2008


Original The Color Purple Broadway cast member, Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, who has played the role of Shug Avery since the musical began performances at the Broadway Theatre in November 2005 and throughout its entire record-breaking run, will begin a hiatus from the role on Thursday, January 31, 2008. The Tony nominated actress will return to the role for the final two performances of The Color Purple on Sunday, February 24, 2008. Beginning on Friday, February 1, 2008, Angela Robinson assumes the role of Shug Avery while Withers-Mendes is on leave.

'The Color Purple' Fades, to Close on Broadway Feb.24
by BWW News Desk - January 24, 2008


The producers of The Color Purple announced today that the show will play its final performance on Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 7:30pm, after playing 30 preview performances and 910 regular performances at the Broadway Theatre.

Photo Coverage: 'The Color Purple' with Khan & Winans Bows & Reception
by Walter McBride - January 10, 2008


Zonya Love made her Broadway debut as Celie, alongside recording-stars Chaka Khan as Sofia and BeBe Winans as Harpo yesterday, Wednesday January 9, 2008, in the smash hit musical 'The Color Purple' with LaKisha Jones, and produced by Oprah Winfrey.

Photo Coverage: 'The Color Purple' with Khan & Winans Arrivals
by Walter McBride - January 10, 2008


Zonya Love made her Broadway debut as Celie, alongside recording-stars Chaka Khan as Sofia and BeBe Winans as Harpo yesterday, Wednesday January 9, 2008, in the smash hit musical The Color Purple.

Love, Khan & Winans Debut in 'The Color Purple' Jan.9
by BWW News Desk - January 8, 2008


Zonya Love makes her Broadway debut as Celie alongside Chaka Khan as Sofia and BeBe Winans as Harpo Wednesday January 9, 2008, in the smash hit musical The Color Purple. Additionally LaKisha Jones, currently playing the Church Soloist, assumes the role of Sofia at all matinee performances.

Zonya Love Debuts as Celie in 'Purple' Jan.9 with Chaka Khan, Winans & Jones
by BWW News Desk - December 19, 2007


The producers of The Color Purple are pleased to announce that Zonya Love will make her Broadway debut as Celie in the smash hit musical starting Wednesday, January 9, 2008, alongside Chaka Khan as Sofia and BeBe Winans as Harpo.

Photo Coverage: Los Angeles Opening Night of 'Color Purple'
by James Sims - December 18, 2007


The Color Purple opened at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre December 16th, bringing the National Tour to Los Angeles for the holiday season, running through March 9, 2008...

'Color Purple' Strikes Soulful Chord
by James Sims - December 18, 2007


Transforming such a momentous story into a staged musical, as bookwriter Marsha Norman has done with The Color Purple, could not have been an easy task. What has ended up on stage more closely resembles a Disney spin on history, rather than a gritty realization of historical abuse. Yet, it strikes a soulful chord with a gospel and jazz aged sensibility, giving the musical an otherwise absent poignant heartbeat.

Photo Coverage: 'The Color Purple' Christmas Party
by Walter McBride - December 10, 2007


Producer Scott Sanders hosted a Christmas Party for the cast of The Color Purple at his Chelsea loft apartment on Saturday, December 8.

'Color Purple' Stars Fantasia, Chaka & BeBe Earn 6 Grammy Nominations
by BWW News Desk - December 6, 2007


The current and upcoming stars of The Color Purple have collectively received an unprecedented 6 Grammy Award nominations today, Thursday December 6, 2007.

Oprah to Produce 'Color Purple' Musical Movie?
by BWW News Desk - December 5, 2007


The LA Times reports Oprah Winfrey, legendary American talk-show host and producer of Broadway's The Color Purple, may be planning a stage-to-screen adaptation of the hit musical production.

Photo Coverage: 'The Color Purple' Stage Door Post-Strike
by Ben Strothmann - November 30, 2007


The cast of The Color Purple returned to the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway) after nearly 3-weeks of work-stoppage due to the stagehands' strike.

Champion Charities Benefit Night at 'The Color Purple' 12/8
by Eugene Lovendusky - October 30, 2007


Champion Charities will host the 4th Annual 'Night at the Theatre' with Oprah Winfrey's The Color Purple on Saturday, December 8.

Photo Flash: 'The Color Purple' Tour in San Francisco
by BWW - October 11, 2007


The West Coast premiere of Oprah Winfrey's new musical, The Color Purple began performances at San Francisco's Orpheum Theatre October 9, running through Sunday, December 9.

Chaka Khan Turns 'Purple' with Winans & Jones Winter 2008
by BWW News Desk - September 26, 2007


The producers of The Color Purple are pleased to announce that legendary eight-time Grammy Award winner Chaka Khan, four-time Grammy Award winner and gospel singer BeBe Winans, and 2007 'American Idol' finalist LaKisha Jones will make their Broadway debuts in the smash hit musical starting Wednesday, January 9, 2008, at the Broadway Theatre

'The Color Purple' LA Tour Tickets On-Sale 9/23, Opens 12/13
by BWW News Desk - September 20, 2007


The Color Purple, The Musical about Love, announces that tickets will go on sale Sunday, September 23 at 11AM for the Los Angeles engagement of the first North American touring production at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center for 12 weeks only, December 13, 2007, through March 9, 2008.

TV: Jeannette Bayardelle of 'The Color Purple'
by BWW Staff - September 13, 2007


Michael J. Roberts interviews Jeannette Bayardelle, the star of Oprah Winfrey presents The Color Purple at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago.

The Color Purple History

Other Productions of The Color Purple

2004   New York Reading
New York
2004   World Premiere
2005   New York Workshop
New York
2005   Broadway Original Broadway Production
Broadway
2007   US Tour National Tour
US Tour
2015   Broadway Broadway Revival Production
Broadway
2017   US Tour Revival National Tour
US Tour

The Color Purple - 2005 Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners will appear on a background
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
2006 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actress in a Musical La Chanze
2006 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Broadway Musical 0
2006 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Elisabeth Withers-Mendes
2006 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Score 0
2006 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Set Design John Lee Beatty
2006 Theatre World Awards Performance Elisabeth Withers-Mendes
2006 Theatre World Awards Performance Felicia P. Fields
2006 Tony Awards Best Book of a Musical Marsha Norman
2006 Tony Awards Best Choreography Donald Byrd
2006 Tony Awards Best Costume Design of a Musical Paul Tazewell
2006 Tony Awards Best Lighting Design of a Musical Brian MacDevitt
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Stephanie P. McClelland
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Scott Sanders
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Roy Furman
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Quincy Jones
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Creative Battery
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Anna Fantaci
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Cheryl Lachowicz
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Independent Presenters Network
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Todd Johnson
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical David Lowy
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Gary Winnick
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Jan Kallish
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Nederlander Presentations
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Bob Weinstein
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Harvey Weinstein
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Andrew Asnes
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Adam Zotovich
2006 Tony Awards Best Musical Oprah Winfrey
2006 Tony Awards Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Brenda Russell
2006 Tony Awards Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Stephen Bray
2006 Tony Awards Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Allee Willis
2006 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Brandon Victor Dixon
2006 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Elisabeth Withers-Mendes
2006 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Felicia P. Fields
2006 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical LaChanze
2006 Tony Awards Best Scenic Design of a Musical John Lee Beatty

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