| Based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, | | | | Broadway show would at least consider it. The same |
| the musical, 'The Color Purple' is Winfrey's first | | | | way she has done for books via her Oprah's Book |
| Broadway venture where she has contributed more | | | | Club, which celebrates the joy of reading. Winfrey was |
| than $1 million of the musical's $10 million production | | | | nominated for an Oscar for her role in the 1985 film |
| cost. 'The Color Purple musical' is told through the eyes | | | | version of 'The Color Purple,' directed by Steven |
| of Celie, a timid young Southern woman who is raped | | | | Spielberg. It starred Whoopi Goldberg as Celie, Oprah |
| by her father, gives birth to two children and suffers | | | | Winfrey as Sofia and Danny Glover as Albert and |
| years of cruelty married to an abusive man. During the | | | | was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including |
| trying times, Celie's character develops from a homely | | | | Best Picture. |
| teenager with a bruised heart to a self-confident | | | | Walker's book has been adapted by Marsha Norman, |
| woman in her late 50s. | | | | author of "'night, Mother," while the score is by Brenda |
| The powerful presence of Oprah Winfrey's name is | | | | Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. This Winfrey |
| great for the stage version of 'The Color Purple'. | | | | production is directed by Gary Griffin, a Chicago-based |
| Celebrity producers are rare on or off-Broadway and | | | | director best known for his small-scale productions of |
| who can be bigger than Winfrey? With such a diverse | | | | musicals such as 'My Fair Lady' and 'Pacific Overtures.' |
| national audience, Oprah can give the show a visibility | | | | The choreographer is Donald Byrd. Quincy Jones, |
| that will hopefully translates into ticket sales. Her | | | | Scott Sanders and Roy Furman are the other |
| attachment gives out the message that Broadway is | | | | producers besides Winfrey. Replacing actress |
| not an elitist art form but something everyone can | | | | LaChanze, Fantasia has taken over the role of Celie in |
| embrace. Associated with 'The Color Purple' for eight | | | | the musical. She even performed 'I'm Here' from The |
| years, Producer Scott Sanders received quite a jolt | | | | Color Purple in a special appearance at the 61st |
| when he received Winfrey's telephone call who | | | | Annual Tony Awards. |
| wanted not only to help in marketing but to invest in | | | | It is not just a musical to see, it is to be felt as it is |
| the show, too. | | | | brutally honest and all the actors do a commendable |
| Revised after receiving mixed reviews when it opened | | | | job to bring forward the emotions. Recently, The Color |
| in Atlanta last year, it will be called "Oprah Winfrey | | | | Purple on Broadway celebrated their one millionth |
| Presents: 'The Color Purple play.'" As Winfrey told the | | | | audience member. Hopefully this extra-ordinary show |
| Times it was 'a secret dream' of hers to be part of | | | | will become another feather is Winfrey's cap just as |
| Broadway. She wants to open the door to the | | | | her own media including her popular syndicated TV |
| possibilities for this production so that a world of people | | | | talk show as well as her magazine O and Oprah's |
| who have never been or even thought of going to a | | | | Book Club. |