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Tony-winning triumph with a soul-raising musical score as part of #BWYPHL @KimmelCenter #ColorPurple at the Forrest Theatre Dec. 12 - 17!
Press Contacts:
Monica Robinson
(215) 790-5847
MRobinson@kimmelcenter.org
Carole Morganti, CJM Public Relations
(609) 953-0570
CJMpr01@aol.com
“A glory to behold!”
-The New York Times
“One of the greatest revivals ever!”
-New York Magazine
“A direct hit to the heart...”
-The Hollywood Reporter
THE COLOR PURPLE ARRIVES IN PHILADELPHIA
FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT AS PART OF KIMMEL CENTER & SHUBERT ORGANIZATION’S BROADWAY PHILADELPHIA SEASON,
DECEMBER 12-17, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, October 18, 2017) –– The North American Tour of the Tony Award®-winning revival of The Color Purple returns to Philadelphia December 12–17, 2017 as part of Broadway Philadelphia, presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and The Shubert Organization.
“We are excited for Philadelphia theater fans to experience the return of this Tony award-winning musical,” said Anne Ewers, President and CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “Anyone who has enjoyed Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel or the popular film will want to see this powerful and poignant stage production at the beautiful Forrest Theatre.”
The Color Purple is the epic tale of 40-years in the life of a family in rural Georgia. At its center is 14-year-old Celie. When Celie is forced by her abusive father to marry a cruel farmer, called “Mister,” she is separated from all that she loves. Ultimately, Celie conquers the odds to find her voice and her strength, coming into her own. The Color Purple celebrates the healing power of love and the importance of a zest for life.
Cast members from the 2016 Broadway revival lead the touring company, including Adrianna Hicks (Aladdin, Sister Act - Germany) as Celie, Carla R. Stewart (Ghost – National Tour, Rent - Regional) as Shug Avery, and Carrie Compere (Holler If You Hear Me, Shrek the Musical – National Tour) as Sofia.
They will be joined by Gavin Gregory (The Color Purple - Revival, The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess) as Mister, N’Jameh Camara (X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation) as Nettie, J. Daughtry (The Color Purple - Revival, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) as Harpo, along with Darnell Abraham, Amar Atkins, Kyle E. Baird, Angela Birchett, Jared Dixon, Erica Durham, Bianca Horn, Gabrielle Reid, C.E. Smith, Clyde Voce, Nyla Watson, J.D. Webster, Brit West, Nikisha Williams, and Michael Wordly.
Based on the Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and the Warner Bros. / Amblin Entertainment motion picture, The Color Purple is adapted for the stage by Tony- and Pulitzer-winner Marsha Norman with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray. Tony Award®-winning director and scenic designer John Doyle (Sweeney Todd, Company) recreates his award winning work for the national tour, alongside costumes by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting by Jane Cox, sound by Dan Moses Schreier and wig & hair design by Charles G. LaPointe.
The revival of The Color Purple opened to great acclaim in summer 2013 at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory, followed by a Broadway bow on November 10, 2015 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. The Color Purple went on to win two 2016 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, two Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical, the 2017 Grammy Award® for Best Musical Theater Album, and a Daytime Emmy®. The Color Purple played 483 performances on Broadway, closing on January 8, 2017.
The North American tour is produced by Scott Sanders Productions, Roy Furman, Troika Entertainment, David Babini, Tom Siracusa, Caiola Productions, James Fantaci, Ted Liebowitz, James L. Nederlander, Darren Bagert, Candy Spelling, Adam Zotovich, Eric Falkenstein/Morris Berchard, Just For Laughs Theatricals, Tanya Link Productions, Jam Theatricals, Independent Presenters Network, and Carol Fineman.
THE COLOR PURPLE
Forrest Theatre
Dates and times:
Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Friday, December 15, 2017 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm
Tickets
Tickets are on sale to the public now and start at $62.00. Tickets can be purchased by calling (800) 447-7400, visiting telecharge.com, or at the Forrest Theatre Box Office beginning November 13. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (800) 432-7780 or on broadwayinbound.com. More information at kimmelcenter.org.
The Shubert Organization
For more than 100 years, The Shubert Organization has been in the forefront of the American theatre. Under the leadership of Philip J. Smith, Chairman, and Robert E. Wankel, President, the Shubert Organization owns and operates 17 Broadway theatres and six Off-Broadway venues, as well as the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. The company has produced and co-produced hundreds of plays and musicals, including the original Broadway production of CATS, Dreamgirls, Sunday in the Park with George, Amadeus, The Real Thing, The Grapes of Wrath, Equus, The Elephant Man, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, School of Rock The Musical, and The Humans. The Shubert Organization is proud of its ongoing refurbishment program for its theatres, seeking to preserve the historic character while modernizing them to accommodate the needs of today’s audiences.
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, The Kimmel Center’s mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience through diverse programming, arts education, and community outreach. The Kimmel Center campus is comprised of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, SEI Innovation Studio, and the Merck Arts Education Center), the Academy of Music (owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association), and the Merriam Theater. The Kimmel Center is also home to eight Resident Companies: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Philly Pops, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Curtis Institute of Music. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is the season sponsor of the Kimmel Center’s 2017-2018 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.
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For photography, please visit pressroom.kimmelculturalcampus.org
For a PDF version of this press release, click here.
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