Purlie Reigns Victorious at City Center Encores!, March 31-April 3

By Robert Simonson
31 Mar 2005

Blair Underwood, Lillias White and John Cullum star in the City Center Encores! concert production of the musical Purlie, which will run March 31-April 3

"L.A. Law" star Underwood will play Purlie. White is Missy and John Cullum is Ol Cap'n'. Also in the cast are Caroline, or Change's Anika Noni Rose as Lutiebelle, Doug E. Doug as Gitlow, Lynda Gravatt and Christopher Duva.

Sheldon Epps directs.

Purlie is based on the late Ossie Davis' Purlie Victorious. With a book by Davis, Philip Rose and Peter Udell, Purlie features music by Gary Geld and lyrics by Peter Udell. Directed by Philip Rose, the original 1970 production was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical; its co-stars, Cleavon Little and Melba Moore, both won Tonys for their performances.

The presentation will be dedicated to the memory of Ossie Davis, who died Feb. 3.

The Goodman Theatre of Chicago recently announced that it would stage Purlie as part of its 2005-06 season.