Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE - Page 2

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/24/16 at 5:27pm

I have to imagine Erivo's extending through Jan. 8 with the likelihood that the show closes that day as well. Unless the can get a big name to replace Erivo, I really can see the show surviving without her.

[smidge]

Posted: 8/24/16 at 5:29pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Oh, please. This is amazing news and you queens are gonna line up to see this. 

 

Correct on all counts. Was going to return a second time to see Heather again, but I may now wait for Holliday. 

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/24/16 at 7:14pm

Holliday is gonna be messy. But I'd see her. I saw her do Dreamgirls in ATL and she still slayed it. 

Wasn't that tour cancelled? 

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 8/24/16 at 8:02pm

My friend ran over to the box office this afternoon as soon as this press release came out and three of us are going to her first performance. Very excited!!

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 8/24/16 at 8:07pm

All I can think of is Jennifer unhinging her jaw and inhaling Cynthia's head during their soft love scenes. Subtlety, thy name is not Jennifer Holliday. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/24/16 at 8:08pm

I saw this and got excited. My mother saw this and got excited. That is all

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/24/16 at 8:27pm

 

Very exciting news!

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/24/16 at 9:47pm

Jennifer Holliday played "The Chanteuse" in the Zachary Scott Theatre (Austin, TX) production of "Sophisticated Ladies" in 2015.  One story I heard is that she ordered the keys changed at the last possible moment.  My heart goes out to the cast and crew of "Colored Purple".  

Updated On: 8/24/16 at 09:47 PM

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 8/24/16 at 10:13pm

KJisgroovy said: "Well I think this is terrific. Shug isn't the hardest part to play.

Will she act it as well as Heather Headley? Heavens no... but I think her persona... a talent not quite as exceptional as it once was... a little too over the top for her own good... might add some interesting elements to the character. 

The scenes between Shug and Celie will suffer a bit... but Cynthia really carries that arch on her own... I don't think it will diminish her performance any. 

Any idea if Cynthia will extend? Any idea if the show will even make it to October?

 

"

Why would the show not make it to October? The numbers are fine considering the time of year. All shows will see a holiday pickup. And why would they bring Holliday on starting Oct 4th? Don't be silly!

[Rhoda4]

Posted: 8/24/16 at 11:10pm

All I know is....  back in the spring of 1982 I sat in the front row/front mezz of the Imperial Theatre ($40.00). I was blessed to witness what was, and always has been for me, one of the greatest theatre performances! 

What will happen with this role - who knows?  My guess is that Mr. Doyle knows what is doing.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 6:05am

Diva_Dom said: "Having seen the show 34 time, I'm intrigued to see what she does with Shug Avery. I think she'll be great. I cannot wait to see he ron October 4th "

I think you've seen this show a few too many times...

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 9:14am

"My heart goes out to the cast and crew of "Colored Purple".  "

 

Yikes. That's not the title.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 9:21am

neonlightsxo said: ""My heart goes out to the cast and crew of "Colored Purple".  
 
Yikes. That's not the title.

It's the Colored Purple starring The Colored People! 

 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 10:07am

I always hate the term, POC. It sounds as if white is automatically not a color, as if it's transparent and anyone can see through it.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 10:15am

Dancingthrulife2 said: "...as if it's transparent and anyone can see through it."

Well...

 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 10:27am

in today's society (and I guess that of the past thousand years or so) the people who aren't white are the ones usually discriminated against. Plus white isn't a color.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 10:50am

Kad said: "Dancingthrulife2 said: "...as if it's transparent and anyone can see through it."

Well..."

I laughed. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 11:20am

I'm going to see the show next month while Headley's still in it. I tend to believe the show will close on Jan. 8 and that Erivo will extend until then. I'll hopefully make another trip for the closing performance.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 11:24am

ACL2006 -  I'm very confused. Where is the Jan 8th date coming from? No one else is talking about it. I'm in NYC that weekend to see Falsettos' final performance (which is also Jan 8th). But if what you're saying turns out to be the truth - I'd call LincTix the second it is announced and switch my tickets for the day before and see TCP's final performance instead. (and cry throughout the show, but that's another matter)

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 11:47am

Oy...

I think days are numbered for CP.......

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 2:09pm

It's like that revival of Grease in the 90's (in which Holliday also appeared) - "Are you at least a C list celebrity, and are you willing to do a Broadway show? You're hired!"... Desperate bit of stunt casting. And according to her Playbill Vault profile, she's turning 56 in October. Just sayin'.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 2:30pm

"This who they talkin' about... and everything they say is true too. So YOU, better believe it"

 

Tell me you cannot see Jennifer Holliday DESTROYING the haters with that line alone.

[Hariku]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 6:59pm

That's the thing. She can't act it. Hudson couldn't either. Especially for this character, which is supposed to drip with sex and charm and charisma.

The show is a million times better with Heather Headley as Shug than it was with Hudson. What the characters say about Shug and how they react to her made no sense with Jennifer Hudson being an uninteresting lump on stage, and won't with Holliday, either.

You'd think the producers would have noticed how much better the show plays with Headley and tried to cast someone with that kind of sex appeall and charisma rather than a semi name like Holliday.

This will close the show.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 8:04pm

Holliday as Shug won't necessarily close the show so much as Erivo leaving will. She just can't be replaced.

[kingslim]

Posted: 8/25/16 at 10:24pm

Why not just cast Brandi.. She did a great job in Chicago and has more sexy appeal than Ms Holliday. And how in the world is Cynthia going to convenience the audience she has fallen in love with this 56 year old women. Miscast 

Updated On: 8/25/16 at 10:24 PM