Color Purple Play Tickets

Tickets: Color Purple Play Tickets Venue: Broadway Theatre Address: 1681 Broadway at 53rd Street Length: 2 hours and 40 mins with 1 intermission Opened: December 1st, 2005 Category: Musical

The Color Purple opened in New York at the Broadway Theater in December of 2005 after many years of thought and collaboration. This long awaited production is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Alice Walker and the Academy Award nominated film by Steven Spielberg. It is produced by Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones. It is an inspiring story of a woman who finds the courage and the strength to overcome adversity and conflict. This family saga is a moving celebration of love and life.

The production is set in the 1900’s south and centers on Celie, the story’s main character, and is based on her letters to God. Through her emotional journey the audience is able to feel her pain and can almost become her. Celie is a young woman who was sexually abused by her father, but that was only the beginning of her tragedy. She eventually marries Albert, who she refers to as “Mister”, and sadly he physically and emotionally abuses her. He also separates her from her sister whom she loves very dearly. Celie is then forced to come in contact with her husband’s lover, Shug Avery, a Billie Holiday-like lounge singer. Shug has the love and devotion of Albert, and at first treats Celie with no respect. After a rough beginning the women hit it off, and develop a close friendship. Celie suffers from low self-esteem, as one would expect, but Shug gives her a sense of self worth and encourages her to triumph over tragedy.

The production’s score blends jazz, gospel, ragtime and blues to create the tone of the story. In 2006 it was nominated for eleven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Leading Actress in a Musical. The show took home one award for LaChanze in the role of Celie as Best Leading Actress. Her portrayal of this character won her not only the Tony, but rave reviews as well. LaChanze’s final performance will be on November 5, 2006. She will be replaced by Jeannette I. Bayardell who has understudied this role.

The Color Purple is a timeless story that portrays the need for love, forgiveness and redemption. The characters are diverse and complex, and the story is very powerful, but at times can be dark. Throughout the performance the audience is able to identify with these characters and the underlying themes. They can relate to a woman who is at the lowest point in her life, but is somehow able to rise above her personal demons and become the person she is truly meant to be.

This inspiring musical is a tribute to women everywhere, and with the help of the incredible score it tells a very moving story. Celie is a strong, likable character that the audience wants to root for, and by the end of the performance they are left with satisfaction and joy. It is a tale that is not soon forgotten.