Color Purple, Drowsy Chaperone Recoup Investments

The Broadway musicals The Color Purple and The Drowsy Chaperone announced this week that they have recouped their initial investments.

The Color Purple, which began previews on November 1, 2005, has paid back its entire $11 milion investment. Talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey is the show’s lead producer and invested $1 million during the musical’s rehearsal process. The show often grosses over $1 million per week.

The Drowsy Chaperone, which began previews on April 3, 2006, has now paid back its entire $8 million capitalization. The show grossed in excess of $1 million during Thanksgiving week and holds the house record for the Marquis Theatre wtih a weekly gross of $1,047, 478 for the week ending October 8.

Both shows were nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical but lost the trophy to Jersey Boys. All three of those shows received Grammy Award nominations for Best Cast Album yesterday.