Photo Flash: First Look at Jennifer Holliday in THE COLOR PURPLE!

Tony and Grammy Award winner Jennifer Holliday has stepped into the role of Shug Avery in John Doyle's Tony Award-winning production of the Broadway musical, The Color Purple. She replaces Heather Headley, who took her final bow on October 2.

Holliday catapulted to stardom 35 years ago in the smash Broadway musical, Dreamgirls, with her show-stopping performance as Effie "Melody" White, the iconic role which garnered her a Tony Award for Best Actress in A Musical. She was discovered at age 17 while singing in her church choir in Houston, Texas by Broadway dancer Jamie Patterson, who persuaded and guided her to New York, where she made her Broadway debut in Vinnette Carroll's Your Arms Too Short To Box With God as a featured soloist. Beyond Broadway, Ms. Holliday appeared as cast regular Lisa Knowles on the quirky Fox TV hit show, Ally McBeal. She has also enjoyed a successful recording career, winning her first Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for her torch-ballad signature song, "And I Am Telling You, I'm Not Going." Most recently, Ms. Holliday received rave reviews and top soul-music charts recognition for her latest CD, The Song Is You.

Check out a first look at Holliday as Shug below!

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy

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