Chicago Engagement of Color Purple Tour, Starring Fantasia, Cuts Back Performance Run

The Chicago engagement of The Color Purple tour, starring American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, has reduced the number of performances it will present at the Arie Crown Theater, and will now only run September 2-6.

Originally scheduled through September 13, a press statement says that the tour has changed the dates “due to scheduling requirements in future markets.” Following Chicago, the tour will play Greensboro, North Carolina the week of September 8, giving Fantasia (a High Point, North Carolina native), the opportunity to make her hometown stage debut, before moving to Atlanta, Georgia, September 15-27.

The Color Purple, based on the novel by Alice Walker, is directed by Gary Griffin. It features a book by Marsha Norman, a score by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, and choreography by Donald Byrd.

The tour’s cast also includes Felicia P. Fields, who received a Tony nomination for her portrayal of Sofia in the musical, along with Angela Robinson as Shug Avery, LaToya London as Nettie, Rufus Bonds, Jr. as Mister, Stu James as Harpo, and Tiffany Daniels as Squeak.

Fantasia — who is reprising the role of Celie which she first played on Broadway — was the winner of season 3 of the TV series American Idol. Since then, she has released the hit albums Free Yourself and Fantasia, written her autobiography Life Is Not a Fairy Tale and starred in the television film adaptation of the book. She will also be the subject of a VH1 reality series to air in 2010, focusing on her life as a recording artist and a single mother.

As previously announced, Fantasia is currently starring in the tour at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center through August 2, and is also scheduled to play Los Angeles’ Pantages Theatre, February 10-28.

For tickets and information, visit www.colorpurple.com.