The show has grossed over $1 million every week since it opened a year ago on Dec. 1, 2005. Its ticket sales have exceeded $60 million.

The musical has been aided from the beginning by the celebrity status and marketing clout of Oprah Winfrey, who received an Oscar nomination for starring in the film version and is the musical's sole above-the-title producer.

The show was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, and LaChanze, who plays the lead role of Celie, earned the show's only Tony win, for Best Actress in a Musical.

Gary Griffin directed The Color Purple, which has a score by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, and a book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman ('night, Mother).

The design team is John Lee Beatty (sets), Paul Tazewell (costumes), Brian MacDevitt (lighting) and Jon Weston (sound).

In addition to Winfrey, The Color Purple's Broadway producing team 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.

The musical's national tour will kick off at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre on April 17, 2007.

For tickets to the Broadway version, call (212) 239-6200, visit the Broadway Theatre Box Office at 1681 Broadway or visit the website at www.colorpurple.com.