Bayardelle as Celie?

[somethingwicked]

Bayardelle as Celie?#1

Posted: 11/8/06 at 11:47am

Has anyone been to see Janette Bayardelle as Celie in The Color Purple? I am curious to see how she is in the role, because she's one heck of a performer..

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

[thejcm]

re: Bayardelle as Celie?#1

Posted: 11/8/06 at 12:47pm

I'm also curious as to how she's using that amazing voice of hers.

I really miss her Seasons of Love Solo in RENT. She's the best I've ever heard sing that part.

"Who says you can't bend over backwards and eat bugs if you want to? I guess the bugs would probably say you can't do that that, but assuming that they are willing and consenting bugs, then there's no problem. Let's wig out eating bugs." -RuPaul

[atlsuperstar]

re: Bayardelle as Celie?#2

Posted: 11/8/06 at 1:06pm

I have seen her before and she does have a good take on it...I have to say that I prefer Kenita over all of them but that doesn't matter at this point. J has an amazing voice..her acting well is not all there. But I think she carries the show well..it is a good combination with her and Darlecia. You have to catch her quick though..she is going to the tour in April. Not sure who is replacing her yet..but I am on it!

[somethingwicked]

re: Bayardelle as Celie?#3

Posted: 11/8/06 at 1:50pm

atl, Janette is touring as Celie? I thought Kenita was going to the tour?

EDIT: Just read LaChanze's exit interview on the Broadway.com blog, and she said she is set to return for a "back for a four weeks sort-of-thing." I'm guessing that means they already have her set for a limited return at some point, maybe between Bayardelle leaving to tour and her replacement coming in?

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 11/8/06 at 01:50 PM

[atlsuperstar]

re: Bayardelle as Celie?#4

Posted: 11/8/06 at 2:26pm

No Kenita is leaving the show as a whole..she is focusing on her music for a while and taking a break with her new husband. A lot of people think that she is doing the tour because of her leaving the show..but not the case. It's a lot of drama that goes on at Color Purple behind the scene that some people just can't put up with if you know what I mean. In saying that Kenita is one of the nicest people you will ever meet!
Updated On: 11/8/06 at 02:26 PM

[defyingravity11]

re: Bayardelle as Celie?#5

Posted: 11/8/06 at 2:37pm

What somethingwicked said makes a lot of sense, especially after LaChanze has said that she would want to returen to the show at a certain point. I'm just not sure that she would return so quickly as she seems to be looking foward to taking a break for a while. As for Janette, I've heard nothing but good things about her vocally, but not much about her acting.

[somethingwicked]

re: Bayardelle as Celie?#6

Posted: 11/8/06 at 3:42pm

defyingravity11, if you watch the video interview with her on the Broadway.com blog that they put up tday, she says she is already set to come back for a limited run (she said something like four weeks.) She didn't specify when, but it must be some time in the immediate future if they've already contracted her for it.

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

[defyingravity11]

re: Bayardelle as Celie?#7

Posted: 11/8/06 at 3:50pm

ahhhh! Thanks for pointing it out (I would have missed the video)! I sure hope she comes back soon! I do want to catch Janette in the role though.