The Color Purple is official! — Page 3

I attended a morning marketing presentation of The Color Purple yesterday. I did not see the production in Atlanta so I do not know the extent of work that was done since then. I can tell you as of yesterday, this new musical is mesmerizing and unlike anything I have seen on Broadway in many, many years. I sat next to Gayle King and several other women who work for Oprah. At intermission, the small crowd was buzzing with enthusiasm and emotion. For those of us who had not seen the Atlanta version of the show, we really didn't know what to expect. If the reaction to yesterday is any indication, The Color Purple is going to be a monumental hit. The cast (La Chanze's performance as Celie is a tour de force), music and dancing is simply sensational. I'm now even more curious to see it on a stage with scenery, lights and costumes. I couldn't find out which cast members from the presentation are going with the show to Broadway this fall but they would be smart to keep every one of them!

i'm not who you were specifically questioning, and granted, i've never seen LaChanze in anything else, but i can say that in Color Purple in Atlanta, she was powerhouse...couldn't wait for her to come back onstage as soon as she left. she rose above the awful material and was just luminous. made remarkable transitions from the very young Celie to the middle aged Celie to the very old Celie seamlessly. you totally bought into everything she was doing every moment of the show. absolutley captivating to watch. a consumate performance.


for musiclover, i'm curious to know who was in the cast of the presentation you saw.

...and as for the "enthusiasm and emotion," it was there in atlanta as well, but these days, that doesnt mean much. i've seen it at lots of shows that weren't very good or just downright bad.

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I am actually very intrigued by this. Hopefully it will be a bright light in a dim season. Anything for Audra McDonald in this one? I miss her...

Is Kingsley Leggs the fav to play Mister or will he be in Chasing Nicolette instead?

Personally, I found the novel to be one of the most poorly-written, over-hyped and politically correct pieces of men-hating crap I have ever had the grave misfortune to read.
And from what I've heard of the score, it sounds like every generic blues/jazz/gospel riff you've heard before.

Natasha Rostova
St. Petersburg, Russia

Updated On: 7/9/05 at 03:42 PM

Guess you told me, apdarcey. Given your barren sense of humor and poverty of literary sensibility (talk about stupid!!), I couldn't care less what you or anyone else thinks of my posts. You don't like 'em? Move on, buster!
PS. And as for getting attention, thanks for your help! (hehe)

Jerusha Bromley
Walpole, Mass.

Updated On: 7/9/05 at 09:19 PM

yay! it'll be a fun thing

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