The Kennedy Center engagement marks Barrino's first return to Purple since making her Broadway debut in the New York production in 2007. The national tour of the Tony-nominated musical officially opens July 1 and will continue through Aug. 9 at the D.C. venue.
Fans, take note: Barrino will not appear Sunday matinees; she will also be out of the show Friday evening, July 31 and the Saturday matinee on Aug. 1. In these performances, the role of Celie will be played by Phyre Hawkins or Brandi Massey.
Barrino has also been announced to headline the tour of The Color Purple for the Chicago run at the Arie Crown Theater, Sept. 2–13.
Fantasia Barrino won "American Idol" in May 2004 and has gone on to release two solo albums, "Free Yourself" in 2004 and "Fantasia" in December 2006. Barrino earned a 2007 Theater World Award for her performance in The Color Purple on Broadway.
As on Broadway, Gary Griffin directs the national tour of The Color Purple, which has a score by pop writers Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray and a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman. Following a world-premiere engagement at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in 2004, The Color Purple was nominated for 11 2006 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, when it premiered on Broadway in November of 2005.
The cast of The Color Purple national tour currently features Tony nominee Felicia P. Fields (Sofia), Angela Robinson (Shug Avery), Rufus Bonds, Jr. (Mister), Stu James (Harpo), LaToya London (Nettie), Tiffany Daniels (Squeak), as well as Lynette DuPree, Kimberly Ann Harris, Virginia Ann Woodruff, Adam Wade, Carol Dennis, Brian Harlan Brooks, Darius Crenshaw, Quentin Earl Darrington, Lesly Terrell Donald, Anika Ellis, Doug Eskew, André Garner, Stephanie Guiland-Brown, LaTrisa A. Harper, Phyre Hawkins, Dameka Hayes, LaTonya Holmes, Chauncey Jenkins, Grasan Kingsberry, Reva Rice, Horace V. Rogers, Kristopher Thompson-Bolden and Hollie E. Wright.
Songs in the production include "Huckleberry Pie/Mysterious Ways," "Somebody Gonna Love You, "Our Prayer/I Really Want That Girl," "That Fine Mister," "Big Dog/Our Prayer (Reprise)," "Bring My Nettie Back," "Lily of the Field," "Dear God – Sofia," "A Tree Named Sofia," Hell No!," "Brown Betty," "Shug Avery Comin’ to Town," "Too Beautiful for Words," "Push Da Button," "Uh-Oh!," "What About Love?," "Africa," "The Color Purple," "A Church Ladies’ Easter," "With These Hands," "Miss Celie's Pants," "Is There Anything I Can Do for You?," "What About Love? (Reprise)," "I'm Here," "A Church Ladies' Fourth of July," "The Color Purple (Reprise)."
The design team comprises John Lee Beatty (sets), Paul Tazewell (costumes), Brian MacDevitt (lighting) and Jon Weston (sound).
The tour has also announced dates in Houston, TX (Aug. 18-23); Birmingham, AL (Oct. 20-25); Miami, FL (Oct. 27-Nov. 1); Orlando, FL (Nov. 3-8); Austin, TX (Jan. 12-17, 2010); Omaha, NE (March 16-21, 2010); Grand Rapids, MI (March 30-April 4, 2010) and Ft. Lauderdale, FL (April 6-18, 2010).
Tickets for the Kennedy Center engagement are on sale by phoning (800) 444-1324 or by visiting KennedyCenter.
For further information visit www.colorpurple.com.
