Heather Headley as Shug Run Don't Walk

Up In One said: "Tookk friends back to see The Color Purple and didn't realize Jennifer Hudson had left the show. OMG! Heather Headley was a revelation in the role of Shug Avery. Her performance took what was a great production and threw it out into stratosphere. I cried in more places than just the end this time around. I don't think I have ever seen a musical with such strong performances from three leading ladies. If the Tony voters waited till now to see the show The Color Purple will have the award in the bag. Too bad Headley didn't open the show - they would have gotten three acting bids. I need to go back for a third round - other than Hamilton, Kinky Boots and Curious - not many shows are worth re-visiting these days."



So glad to read this! I just bought tickets yesterday for June 8. I saw the show in January but wanted to take my daughter and her best friend. I'm glad I decided to pull the trigger!

double post

Updated On: 5/22/16 at 09:08 PM

I saw Heather Headly in Aida and The Lion King and loved her in both. I was curious how she is doing in The Color Purple and was very happy to read this post. I wanted to see the show with Jennifer Hudson and never made it before she left. Sounds like I will be just as pleased with Heather in the show. Thanks for posting!

rebeccmam31 said: "ArtMan said: "100% agree. Heather acted/sang the hell out of the role. I didn't see Jennifer Hudson so can't comment. Absolutely loved this show. Ironically, I didn't care for the original. Loved, loved it."



Like you, I did not like the original. At all. A friend really wanted to see this revival, and I was able to get free tickets through Audience Rewards, so I went. Man, did I love it. Just beautiful. I was so moved by it that I decided I really needed to take my 14-year-old daughter and her best friend. It will be interesting to see how Ms. Headley plays the role compared to what Jennifer Hudson did, but I mostly just want to watch Cynthia Erivo sing I'm Here again!



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Rebeccmam31 report back when you see it again with Heather. I am curious to know how it differs. I just can't see Jennifer acting method to be in the same league as Heather's for this production.

Ben Brantley gushes over Headley (and Marin Mazzie) in a column on replacements in long-running revivals:

“Push the Button,” the honky-tonk number in which Shug demonstrates the art of pleasing a partner in bed, is now the raging showstopper it should be. Yet Ms. Headley’s Shug is also fiercely vulnerable, on prickly guard against those who might discover her soft spots.

When she finds herself unexpectedly falling for the plain and work-worn Celie, her long body morphs from sharp angles into melting curves. And her resplendent voice matches her mercurial character’s every emotional shift. As important, it also blends beautifully with Ms. Erivo’s, and their climactic first-act duet becomes a tender, erotic intermingling of kindred spirits.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/23/theater/how-to-keep-a-musical-great-call-heather-headley-and-marin-mazzie.html