The Color Purple Opening Night Chicago

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 9:33am

Fun! Not sure if it's the cast or just because I know the music better after seeing it in NYC last year but the show was excellent.
I loved this cast - Jeanette Bayardelle (from Broadway) as Celie, Rufus Bonds Jr. as Mister, LaToya London as Nettie, Felicia P. Fields (from Broadway) as Sophia, the hot, hot Stu James (whom I got to meet at the party) as Harpo, and wonderful Michelle Williams as Shug.

I was seated directly in front of Oprah and near Jesse Jackson. The Daley's were two rows in front of me and I was next to Donald Byrd.

The Color Purple is a show with an enormous heart and a cast dripping with talent. I am very happy for the success of this show.

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 9:34am

Donald Byrd

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 9:36am

Me with Barbara Robertson who was one of the real actors in our Altman movie and who is the new Morrible in Chicago's WICKED.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 10:46am

What a wonderful privilege to have been there and seated amongst the other starry attendees, Glebby!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 10:57am

What a fun night you must have had. On her show today Oprah mentioned that she sat right behind the amazing Glebb!

And may I say the Robertson was BRILLIANT in Night Music?

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 1:09pm

Robertson was also excellent in the Drury Lane Grand Hotel. :)

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 1:33pm

Is that the same theatre where The Producers opened?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 1:34pm

Yep.

[Chicagofan]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 2:35pm

I would have loved to be in your seat last night, what a thrill!

I'm seeing the show on Sunday. I have looked forward to it for a long time.

Last time I was at the Cadillac was to see Pirate Queen in previews.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 2:42pm

Would love to read the reviews. I enjoyed the show on Broadway and can't wait for it to get to Denver.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 3:01pm

for anyone interested here is the link to the review in the Chicago Tribune. Glad to hear Michelle Williams is doing a good job. I was wondering how she would do. Also, the Sun Times has pictures of the red carpet.

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 6:38pm

Robertson is always brilliant - "The Goat, or, Who is Sylvia?", "A Little Night Music", "Grand Hotel" and "Hard Times".

[PirelisMiracleElixir]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 8:35pm

Robertson was also Gertrude in Chicago Shakespeare's phenomenal Hamlet last year. She was pretty good. Just a tad overdone for my taste.

[wicked4life51]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 11:04pm

i cant believe shes the new morrible i love her shes so amazing
i loved her in the company, and she was in grand hotel which she was fantastic in she was awesome
she gets so much theatre work in the chicago area. thats why im going to school there for musical theatre because there are so many oppurtunities to do theatre there i love it

[wicked4life51]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 11:07pm

oprah really went , and she mentioned him on the show cool
i love oprah
im surprised she went

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 11:12pm

It was an awesome night. I sat in the same row, a few seats away from R Kelly. What a great performance. The cast was wonderful and I was truly impressed at how good Michelle Williams is.

It was crazy being so close to Oprah when she gave her speech! So close to the power!
Updated On: 5/4/07 at 11:12 PM

[musiclover]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 11:34pm

The reviews I have read online about The Color Purple in Chicago are all raves. Here is one from The Chicago Sun Times
Purple blossoms on stage

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 12:25am

Glebb, great pics! We worked with Barb many years ago, she is one of the many Chicago divas!

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 10:05am

And Barbara is a truly nice lady.

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 11:06am

Wow, those reviews really are raves. I really wish this was coming to Boston now

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 5:29pm

It has to be going to Boston.
I know it's going to the Ahmanson from Chicago.

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 6:05pm

Currently its scheduled to go to San Francisco (The Orpheum) from October 29 to December 22, the Ahmanson in L.A. from December 24 till March 8, the Gammage auditorium in Tempe from March 10 till March 23, the Palace in Cleveland from March 24 till April 13, the Procter and Gamball hall in Cincinatti from April 15 till April 27, and then finally Baltimore's Hippodrome from April 29 till May 25 as of now.

[jg4892]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 6:06pm

It will also be in Philly in the summer of 08.

[jg4892]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 6:06pm

It will also be in Philly in the summer of 08.

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 9:56pm

Why not take a trip to NYC to see it?