Cynthia Erivo, Nicola Hughes, & More to Lead Menier Chocolate Factory's THE COLOR PURPLE; Full Cast Announced!

The European premiere of the landmark musical The Color Purple, runs from 5 July to 14 September at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

This stirring family chronicle from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker follows the inspirational Celie, as she journeys from childhood through joy and despair, anguish and hope to discover the power of love and life. With a fresh, joyous score of jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, this European premiere is directed and designed by Tony Award winner John Doyle (Road Show at the Menier Chocolate Factory), adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize and Tony award winner Marsha Norman, with music and lyrics by Grammy award winners Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.

Joining Cynthia Erivo (Celie), Nicola Hughes ( Shug),Adebayo Bolaji (Harpo) and Abiona Omonua (Nettie) are Lakesha Cammock (Squeak), Christopher Colquhoun (Mister), Sophia Nomvete (Sofia), Neil Reidman (Pa) and Keisha T Fraser (Churchwoman).

The ensemble are Marc Akinfolarin, Ashley Campbell, Leon Lopez and Gabriel Mokake.

John Doyle's recent productions include Passion (Classic Stage Company, New York), Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory), Lucia di Lammermoor (La Fenice, Venice), Madame Butterfly (Pimlico Opera Tour, 2010 and Grange Park Opera, 2012); Oklahoma! (Chichester Festival); Peter Grimes (Metropolitan Opera, New York); for the Watermill Theatre: Sweeney Todd (also West End and Broadway - Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical), Merrily We Roll Along, Mack and Mabel (also West End), Fiddler on the Roof and The Gondoliers (also West End), both of which won TMA Best Musical Award; A Catered Affair and Company (Broadway); andAmadeus (Wilton's Music Hall). He directed the feature film Main Street starring Ellen Burstyn, Colin Firth and Orlando Bloom.

Musical supervision is by Catherine Jayes, musical supervisor and director for the Chocolate Factory's production of Merrily We Roll Along, currently at the Harold Pinter Theatre, and Road Show. Choreography is by Ann Yee, costume design by Matthew Wright, lighting design by Jane Cox and sound design by Gregory Clarke.

The Color Purple is produced by special arrangement with Scott Sanders and Roy Furman.

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