John Doyle's Award-Winning Revival of The Color Purple to End Broadway Run
(© Matthew Murphy)
The Tony-winning Broadway revival of The Color Purple will end its run at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on January 8, 2017, after 33 previews and 449 regular performances. A North American tour will commence in fall 2017.
Directed by John Doyle, The Color Purple began its run November 10, 2015, and opened on December 10 after a 2013 engagement at London's Menier Chocolate Factory. The production received the 2016 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, as well as the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical for British-born star Cynthia Erivo.
Adapted from the novel of the same name by Alice Walker, The Color Purple features a book by Marsha Norman with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray. Erivo will lead the closing company, alongside Tony and Grammy winner Jennifer Holliday as Shug Avery. The role of Shug has also been played in this revival by Jennifer Hudson and Heather Headley.
The show also stars Kyle Scatliffe as Harpo, Isaiah Johnson as Mister, Jennie Harney as Nettie, and Tony nominee Danielle Brooks as Sofia. Brooks and Johnson will give their final performances on November 13; Carrie Compere and Nathaniel Stampley will assume their roles on November 15. Phoenix Best, Dwayne Clark, Lawrence Clayton, Carrie Compere, Patrice Covington, J. Daughtry, Adrianna Hicks, Bre Jackson, Grasan Kingsberry, Kevin Mambo, Ken Robinson, Antoine L. Smith, Carla R. Stewart, Akron Watson, and Rema Webb complete the ensemble.
