Featuring a score by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, the new musical began on Broadway Nov. 1 at the Broadway Theatre and will officially open Dec. 1.
Gary Griffin stages the work featuring a book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman ('night, Mother).
Spanning over 40 years, 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," as a release states. The show's score blends "gospel, jazz, ragtime and the blues."
Soul singers Patti LaBelle and Jill Scott will record a version of the show's "What About Love?" to be released as a single in January and featured on the album as a bonus track.
The track listing (subject to change) is as follows: 1. Overture
2. Huckleberry Pie
3. Mysterious Ways
4. Somebody Gonna Love You
5. Our Prayer
6. Big Dog
7. Hell No!
8. Brown Betty
9. Shug Avery Comin To Town
10. Too Beautiful For Words
11. Push da Button
12. Uh Oh!
13. What About Love?
14. African Homeland
15. The Color Purple
16. With These Hands
17. Miss Celie’s Pants
18. Any Little Thing
19. I’m Here
20. The Color Purple (reprise) 21. What About Love? (Patti LaBelle & Jill Scott)
Surnameless star LaChanze (Once on This Island, Ragtime, Company) reprises her turn as the story's central character Celie from the world premiere at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in fall 2004. Broadway newcomer Elisabeth Withers appears as Shug with Renée Elise Goldsberry (The Lion King) featured as Nettie, joining original Atlanta stars Felicia P. Fields as Sofia and Kingsley Leggs as Mister.
The cast also features Brandon Victor Dixon as Harpo, Krisha Marcano as Squeak and includes Jeannette Bayardelle, James Brown III, Eric L. Christian, Latrisa Coleman, Bobby Daye, Carol Dennis, Anika Ellis, Doug Eskew, Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines, Zipporah Gatling, Charles Gray, Stephanie Guiland-Brown, James Harkness, Francesca Harper, Kimberly Ann Harris, Chantylla Johnson, Grasan Kingsberry, Corinne McFarlane, Kenita R. Miller, JC Montgomery, Lou Myers, Angela Robinson, Nathaniel Stampley, Jamal Story, Leon Thomas III, Maia Nkenge Wilson and Virginia Woodruff.
Oprah Winfrey, who appeared as Sofia in the Steven Spielberg film version opposite Whoopi Goldberg as Celie and Danny Glover as Albert, is the musical's sole above-the-title producer. The Color Purple's Broadway producing team also includes Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Quincy Jones, Creative Battery, Anna Fantaci & Cheryl Lachowicz, Independent Presenters Network, Lowy Family Group, Stephanie McClelland, Gary Winnick, Jan Kallish, Andrew Asnes & Adam Zotovich and Todd Johnson.
Tickets for The Color Purple on sale through (212) 239-6200, via the link below or at the Broadway Theatre Box Office at 1681 Broadway. For more information, visit the website at www.colorpurple.com.
