The Color Purple is a musical with a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray. Based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker and its 1985 film adaptation, the show follows the journey of Celie, an African-American woman in the American South during the early 1900s.
The Color Purple premiered on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre on December 1, 2005 after starting off-Broadway at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London earlier that year. The original Broadway production ran for 910 performances before closing on February 24, 2008. It was nominated for eleven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Original Score.
Is The Color Purple still running on Broadway?
No, the original Broadway production of The Color Purple closed in 2008. However, the show was revived on Broadway in 2015 with a new cast and creative team. This revival production opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on November 10, 2015 and ran for 455 performances before closing on January 8, 2017.
So while the original 2005 Broadway production is no longer running, The Color Purple did have a more recent revival that played on Broadway from 2015-2017. There are currently no plans for the show to return to Broadway in the immediate future.
Background on The Color Purple Broadway productions
The original Broadway production opened to critical acclaim in 2005. The cast was led by LaChanze as Celie, a role she had previously played Off-Broadway. Felicia P. Fields portrayed Sofia, a role she had also originated Off-Broadway. Other cast members included Brandon Victor Dixon as Harpo, Renée Elise Goldsberry as Nettie, Kingsley Leggs as Mister, Krisha Marcano as Squeak, and Elisabeth Withers-Mendes as Shug Avery.
This first Broadway production was directed by Gary Griffin with choreography by Donald Byrd. The scenic design was by John Lee Beatty, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lighting by Brian MacDevitt, and sound by Jon Weston. The original Broadway orchestrations were by William David Brohn.
The show was nominated for eleven Tony Awards but did not win any. LaChanze did win the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical for her acclaimed performance as Celie. The production recouped its $11 million investment within its first year on Broadway.
In 2015, a Broadway revival of The Color Purple opened with a new creative team. This production was directed by John Doyle with choreography by Doyle, Ann Yee, and Catherine Jayes. The revival starred Cynthia Erivo as Celie, a breakout performance for which she won the 2016 Tony for Best Actress in a Musical. Jennifer Hudson and Danielle Brooks also starred as Shug Avery and Sofia, respectively.
Other actors in the 2015 revival included Kyle Scatliffe as Harpo, Isaiah Johnson as Mister, Joaquina Kalukango as Nettie, and Patrice Covington as Squeak. This revival production received warmer reviews than the original and recouped its $13 million capitalization in under 10 months.
National tours and international productions
Following its Broadway run, the original production of The Color Purple launched a national tour across the United States and Canada. The tour ran from April 2007 to April 2010. Felicia P. Fields reprised her Tony-nominated performance as Sofia for the tour.
A second national tour was launched following the 2015 Broadway revival. This tour started in October 2016 in Providence, Rhode Island and played over 40 cities across North America before concluding in May 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. Carla R. Stewart starred as Celie on the second tour.
There have also been international productions of The Color Purple in Europe, Australia, and Asia. The show made its London debut in 2013 at the Menier Chocolate Factory, the same venue where it premiered in 2005 prior to Broadway.
Other major international productions have included an Australian tour in 2009 and a production in Utrecht, Netherlands in 2011-2012. Most recently, a South Korean production played in Seoul in 2018-2019 starring local recording artist Park Hyo-shin as Mister.
Will The Color Purple return to Broadway again?
There are currently no plans announced for The Color Purple to return to Broadway in the near future. However, given the popularity and acclaim of the show both on Broadway and in regional/touring productions, another revival seems likely at some point.
The 2015 Broadway revival was still running as recently as 2017, so the show may need more time before producers opt to bring it back to New York again. Several more years of regional productions and international tours could build anticipation for The Color Purple’s eventual return to Broadway.
Since winning the 2016 Tony for Best Revival of a Musical, The Color Purple has remained popular in licensing for schools and regional theaters. As younger generations discover the show, it continues finding new audiences beyond its Broadway runs. This bodes well for a potential third Broadway mounting in the coming years.
What critics and audiences say about The Color Purple
Reviews were mixed when The Color Purple first opened on Broadway in 2005. Some found it over-sentimental and disjointed, while others were deeply moved by its emotional storytelling. Here is a sampling of what initial reviews said:
“The feeling you get at the end — that feeling that Celie has survived, has transcended — is intensely moving.” – Ben Brantley, The New York Times
“Too choppy and episodic to gather much dramatic force or fully draw in the audience.” – Variety
“Transports you into an epic story of suffering and transcendence that is soul-stirring in its depth and scope.” – Entertainment Weekly
The 2015 revival fared better with critics, who praised its stripped-down staging and powerful performances. Cynthia Erivo was universally lauded for her empathetic embodiment of Celie. Here are excerpts from 2015 reviews:
“Cynthia Erivo’s shattering performance makes this Broadway revival of The Color Purple a thrilling act of spiritual reclamation.” – Rolling Stone
“In Ms. Erivo, it has found its true heart, soul and song.” – The New York Times
“This production transforms The Color Purple into a transcendent and awe-inspiring experience.” – Hollywood Reporter
In audience surveys, The Color Purple consistently scores high marks. On BroadwayWorld.com, the 2005 original production earned an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from theatre-goers. The 2015 revival fared even better, earning an average audience rating of 4.7 stars.
Many viewers find it to be an emotional and cathartic theatrical experience. Some audience comments include:
“It was the most inspiring and uplifting show I’ve seen. Truly life-changing.”
“The story is heartbreaking but the performances are incredible. Left the theater in tears.”
“I laughed, cried, and jumped to my feet cheering. The definitive version of this classic.”
Key songs from the musical
With a soulful musical score drawing on gospel, jazz, ragtime, and blues styles, The Color Purple boasts several standout songs that have become popular both in productions and as individual recordings. Here are some of the musical highlights:
- “Mysterious Ways” – An upbeat gospel number about finding hope even in difficult times.
- “Too Beautiful For Words” – A romantic ballad sung by Harpo to express his love for Sofia.
- “What About Love?” – Shug questions Celie about love and helps her open up emotionally.
- “I’m Here” – Celie’s powerful solo affirming her independence and inner strength.
- “The Color Purple” – The uplifting final number celebrating Celie’s freedom and personal growth.
Other memorable songs include “Hell No!”, “Brown Betty”, “Shug Avery Coming to Town”, and the act one closer “I Curse You Mister”. The score incorporates a range of musical styles while capturing the voices of a small rural Georgia community.
Conclusion
While currently absent from the Broadway stage, The Color Purple remains a contemporary musical theatre classic thanks to its unforgettable story and songs. With numerous regional productions, tours, and international stagings each year, the show continues finding receptive new audiences. Given its ongoing popularity with theaters and theatre-goers alike, it seems highly likely The Color Purple will once again make its triumphant return to Broadway in the coming years.