Color Them Purple

In the words of one wag, last night’s opening performance of The Color Purple at the Broadway Theatre was “more star-studded than you could possibly imagine,” due largely to the fact that Oprah Winfrey is one of the musical’s lead producers. The show was followed by a glittering after-party at the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue. Pictured here at the celebration are LaChanze (right) and Renée Elise Goldsberry, who play sisters Celie and Nettie in the tuner. (To access TheaterMania’s review of the show, click here.)

Here’s the fabulous Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, who plays the fabulous Shug Avery in The Color Purple…

…here are Felicia P. Fields and Brandon Victor Dixon, who play Sofia and Harpo…

…and here’s Marsha Norman, who wrote the book for the musical.

As noted above, the opening was a star-gazer’s paradise. Here’s Oprah herself, arriving for the performance on the arm of David Letterman…

…and here she is again, with the great Ruby Dee and the super-talented Angela Bassett.

Also making the scene: Alice Walker, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel on which the musical is based…

…music legend Isaac Hayes…

…music legend Quincy Jones, another of the show’s lead producers…

…actress S. Epatha Merkerson with her date, Paul Reubens, a.k.a. Pee-wee Herman…

…Sean Combs, a.k.a. Puff Daddy, a.k.a. P. Diddy, a.k.a. Diddy.

…TV’s own Diane Sawyer with her husband, Spamalot director Mike Nichols…

…the stunning model Naomi Campbell…

….rock icon David Bowie with his gorgeous wife, Iman…

…and two superb actors, Sidney Poitier and Jamie Foxx.