Oprah Winfrey and Jane Fonda at The Color Purple tonight

[atunes]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:19am

The sold-out audience at The Color Purple was given an extra treat tonight when Oprah and Jane Fonda (not together) both came to see Broadway's newly anointed star leading lady Fantasia.

Fantasia received a standing ovation after her 11 o'clock number as did the entire cast for the finale.

It appeared as though both Oprah and Jane were escorted backstage after the show.

[musiclover]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:45am

Backstage photos are posted on Broadway.com:

Oprah was in the house—the Broadway Theatre, that is—last night to check in on her musical The Color Purple and its new leading lady, Fantasia Barrino. Not that Miss Fantasia needs any checking up on… box office sales are through the roof and the critics have been raving. Still, who wouldn’t want a little one-on-one time with O?

Oprah Visits Purple Updated On: 5/20/07 at 01:45 AM

[Julian2]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 3:34am

I wonder why Fonda was in the audience, maybe she's looking at being in the show!

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 6:08am

LMFAO! ^

Oh my god. . what a perfect post!

~Jacob.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:09pm

Oprah has seen The Color Purple about 100 times, yet, she hasn't seen Hairspray or any other show currently playing, it seems. I don't know, but if I were producing a show on Broadway, I'd want to see the other shows, to know what kind of product Im putting out there.

[robstyle001]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 2:08pm

...apparently she doesnt need to see any other shows...

how can u say she has never seen any other shows...

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 2:42pm

I can be wrong, maybe I should have said "most" shows currently playing. The last time she went to see a show, it was "3 Days of Rain" and you always find out if she sees a show, since her theatre visits are always very high profile.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 2:49pm

muscle, why do you care what shows Oprah has seen? You do know she is very busy, and lives in Chicago. Also, just because she is a producer does not mean she has to see other shows.

[Virgo]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 3:11pm

Exactly, she's very busy, she doesn't have time to run around looking at plays and musicals that can last over 2 hours.

"I'd want to see the other shows, to know what kind of product Im putting out there. "

But why would Oprah need to see other shows to see what kind of product she's putting out there? Isn't that what reviews are for? Anyway for all we know perhaps Oprah has people in NY paid to do just that go to different shows to view and compare.

Anyway on another note. I think it's nice that Oprah waited until Fantasia's "official" opening and critic reviews came out before going to see her. I bet Oprah was floored just as the critics were of how much better the musical is working now.

Also, Jane Fonda? WOW, Fantasia has to be on cloud 9. That's so sweet for her to come out and see Fantasia in her broadway debut. Those reviews are even getting the legends out there. As Clive Barnes said "If you haven't seen the color purple see it, if you have seen it, see it again, there is something magical happening at the broadway theatre that is not to be miss. WOW. Can't think of a person receiving a much better compliment then that.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 3:44pm

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 4:07pm

Nancy Reagan is telling Fantasia to stay away from drugs. how sweet

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 4:52pm

Sweetie,

I think that's the Crypt Keeper....



And, of course, Fantasia's blubbering...

[dream on]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 7:07pm

I see some people cant handle the fact that Fantasia is the most exciting actress to take the stage since Jennifer Holliday - and thats not my opinion - its that of a Theatre Critic.

You are very poor sports.

Give the girl her due.

[dream on]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 7:10pm

Oprah goes to support HER show when there is a new cast member. Thats very nice of her I think. And she owes Fantasia big time. She just saved the Color Purple from closing.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 7:39pm

"Fantasia is the most exciting actress to take the stage since Jennifer Holliday"

You are the ONLY person I've heard say that.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 7:44pm

did he/she send you one of those beloved PMs too?

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 7:47pm

since Jennifer Holiday. WTF.

so will they be doing a tour of songs they sung from their broadway show at coffee beans all over the country?

if so please get me tickets.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 7:56pm

LOL, Fantasia did boost the box office of the show, but Oprah doesn't owe her anything, do you think she is not getting paid for it?
Anyways, I have nothing against Fantasia, but for w/e reason all the pix I have ever seen of her, are pics in which she is crying! It's hilarious. She cries all the time!
Jane is terrific, I just saw her Georgia Rule.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 8:00pm

vI see some people cant handle the fact that Fantasia is the most exciting actress to take the stage since Jennifer Holliday - and thats not my opinion - its that of a Theatre Critic.


You're sick. Holliday's acting wasn't even particularly good. It was her singing, attitude, drive, and emotion that made her Effie so prolific. Otherwise, neither are really exciting actresses.

Victoria Clark, Christine Ebersole, Donna Murphy, Audra McDonald, THOSE are exciting actresses.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 8:07pm

<< Victoria Clark, Christine Ebersole, Donna Murphy, Audra McDonald, THOSE are exciting actresses.
>>


I really dont want to get into the whole comparison debate, but the above that you listed are seasoned actresses...

Fantastis is not--- really not fair to compare.

What I will say is that what she is doing right now in "TCP" IS very exciting !! She really is phenomenal in the role.

[BroadwayBound86]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 8:21pm

As someone said before....the only pictures I have ever seen of her she is weeping....it's rather obnoxious....

The show will be getting some bad press I'm sure with the pending lawsuit against it from a former crew member. Not the most news worthy source....but still...


EOnline

[dream on]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 9:16pm

Heres the link
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/world/ColorPurple2.html

For the monumental Broadway debut currently in progress at the Broadway doesn’t just transform the winner of season three of American Idol into the most capable, most assured, most innately gifted new stage star to appear in years. It’s also effected a metamorphosis on an entire musical that last year ranked a solid “can miss,” but is now an emphatic “must see.”

No change so complete has occurred in my theatregoing experience, never has a show that started as at best a lumbering bore become an energetic, vivifying tribute to life and theatricality just by obtaining a new star. Some will point Jonathan Pryce’s recent stint in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, still others to country star Reba McEntire’s replacing Bernadette Peters in the 1999 revival of Annie Get Your Gun. But neither was well served: Pryce was suave but out of control, and McEntire was out of her element, singing twangily but bearing at best rudimentary acting skills.


The audience reaction to this number at the performance I attended recalled the fabled screams of ecstasy so often attributed to Jennifer Holliday’s rendition of “And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going” in the first production of Dreamgirls. I can’t say it was unwarranted. Nor can I say that Fantasia’s American Idol season-mate Jennifer Hudson, who played Holliday’s role in last year’s Dreamgirls film and won an Oscar for it, brought to it even half the confidence and emotional clarity Fantasia does to Celie here.

Updated On: 5/20/07 at 09:16 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:43pm

OH!

Well, if 'Talkin' Broadway' says that it's so, it MUST be.

[dream on]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:52pm

Here is the Theater Critic's name:

Matthew Murray, Chief New York Theater Critic, Talkin' Broadway

[dream on]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:55pm

What about Newsday? Do they count?

However theater-trained professionals may feel about the invasion of newcomers from TV talent contests, they will have to admit that Fantasia, named for a fantasy, is the real thing.