The Color Purple
Based on the 1982 book of the same name, The Color Purple is a musical that charts the trials of Celie, a young African-American woman living in the deep south in the early twentieth century. Not only must Celie face persecution from racist neighbours and employers, she must also contend with the violent tendencies of Mister, a much older man her abusive father has sold her and her sister to in a dastardly arranged marriage pact. Although the book was quickly adapted into a motion picture by Steven Spielberg, it would be almost two decades before it translated to the stage. The first Broadway performance of the musical adaptation opened in 2005 and quickly established itself as a firm favourite with theatregoers and critics alike. Desperate to see what all the fuss is about? Grab The Color Purple Tickets the easy way online at StubHub.
Broadway origins and national tours
It wouldn't be until the late 1990s that producers seriously considered bringing the troubled story of Celie and her acquaintances to the stage in musical form. The first tryout performances ran in 2004 in Atlanta, with the Broadway debut arriving the following year. The first run of the musical had some serious backing, with producers including Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey, herself a veteran of the story having starred in the film adaptation in 1985. The musical was a smash hit, running for more than 900 performances before finally closing its doors in 2008.
That would be far from the end of the story, however. From 2007, The Color Purple started touring across the United States. Its First National Tour kicked off in Chicago, before moving on to other major metropolises across North America. A second and third national tour would follow before the musical migrated to London's West End in 2013. It would finally return to its Broadway roots in 2015 for another impressive run, closing again in 2017. All in all, The Color Purple has proved to be one of the most financially successful of the twenty-first century. The first run on Broadway alone brought in more than $100 million of revenue.
Praise and accolades
Much like the book and motion picture that preceded it, the musical adaptation of The Color Purple has bowled over critics. The initial Broadway run earned a slew of Tony Award nominations, with LaChanze walking away with the prize for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Celie. The Broadway revival would fare even better, earning Tony Awards for Best Revival and Best Actress, not to mention a host of Drama Desk Awards, Grammy Awards and Daytime Emmy Awards. Experience this stunning musical yourself when you buy The Color Purple tickets online today at StubHub.
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