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Wednesday, November 7, 2007
‘Color Purple’ will play Atlanta again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“The Color Purple” is headed back South, where it all began.
Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars has confirmed that the national tour of the Oprah Winfrey-backed musical, based on the novel by Georgia-born Alice Walker, is coming to the Fox Theatre in summer 2008.
You may recall that “The Color Purple” had its world premiere at the Alliance Theatre in 2004 and moved to Broadway in 2005. Its Atlanta homecoming, July 15 through Aug. 3, will coincide with the National Black Arts Festival.
Tickets go on sale Nov. 18. (404-817-8700, www.ticketmaster.com)
After garnering mixed notices from the national press corps, “The Color Purple” was nominated for 11 Tony Awards. Ultimately, it won only one Tony, for lead actress LaChanze, who plays Walker’s downtrodden but ultimately triumphant heroine, Celie.
Atlanta casting is pending. It’s worth noting that “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino has been playing Celie on Broadway to tremendous crowd appeal.
Interestingly, the press release from the producer’s office in New York does not mention the show’s world premiere at the Alliance.
We’ll keep you posted.
