Color Purple Tickets

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 firstway she has done for books via her Oprah's Book
Broadway venture where she has contributed moreClub, which celebrates the joy of reading. Winfrey was
than $1 million of the musical's $10 million productionnominated for an Oscar for her role in the 1985 film
cost. 'The Color Purple musical' is told through the eyesversion of 'The Color Purple,' directed by Steven
of Celie, a timid young Southern woman who is rapedSpielberg. It starred Whoopi Goldberg as Celie, Oprah
by her father, gives birth to two children and suffersWinfrey as Sofia and Danny Glover as Albert and
years of cruelty married to an abusive man. During thewas nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including
trying times, Celie's character develops from a homelyBest Picture.
teenager with a bruised heart to a self-confidentWalker'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 isRussell, 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 anddirector best known for his small-scale productions of
who can be bigger than Winfrey? With such a diversemusicals such as 'My Fair Lady' and 'Pacific Overtures.'
national audience, Oprah can give the show a visibilityThe choreographer is Donald Byrd. Quincy Jones,
that will hopefully translates into ticket sales. HerScott Sanders and Roy Furman are the other
attachment gives out the message that Broadway isproducers besides Winfrey. Replacing actress
not an elitist art form but something everyone canLaChanze, Fantasia has taken over the role of Celie in
embrace. Associated with 'The Color Purple' for eightthe musical. She even performed 'I'm Here' from The
years, Producer Scott Sanders received quite a joltColor Purple in a special appearance at the 61st
when he received Winfrey's telephone call whoAnnual Tony Awards.
wanted not only to help in marketing but to invest inIt 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 openedjob to bring forward the emotions. Recently, The Color
in Atlanta last year, it will be called "Oprah WinfreyPurple on Broadway celebrated their one millionth
Presents: 'The Color Purple play.'" As Winfrey told theaudience member. Hopefully this extra-ordinary show
Times it was 'a secret dream' of hers to be part ofwill become another feather is Winfrey's cap just as
Broadway. She wants to open the door to theher own media including her popular syndicated TV
possibilities for this production so that a world of peopletalk show as well as her magazine O and Oprah's
who have never been or even thought of going to aBook Club.