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Phylicia Pearl

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Phylicia Pearl BIO

Mpasi began her career in theater, performing in various roles in The Lion King musical on Broadway and on tour from 2015 until 2020. During the pandemic, she began creating YouTube videos. She then pivoted to television writing, working on the television show Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies and the HBO scripted podcast We Stay Looking starring Terri J. Vaughn.

In 2021, she initially auditioned for the role of adult Celie for the film adaptation of the musical The Color Purple. After the role went to Fantasia Barrino, Mpasi went on to audition for the role of young Celie, which she was awarded with the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture. Mpasi also performed the original song "Keep It Movin'" with Halle Bailey, winning the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Song.

Phylicia Pearl STAGE CREDITS

[US Tour]
National Tour, 2002
Performer [Replacement]

Shenzi [Replacement]

Performer (Swing) [Replacement]

Shenzi (Understudy) [Replacement]


Phylicia Pearl News


THE COLOR PURPLE Movie Musical Sets Max Streaming Premiere Date


Warner Bros. Pictures’ THE COLOR PURPLE movie musical will make its streaming debut on Max next week. Produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders, and Quincy Jones, the film is a bold new take on the classic story of love and resilience, adapted from the beloved novel and the Broadway musical.

EL COLOR PÚRPURA llega a los cines este viernes


Este viernes 9 de febrero llega a cines de toda España EL COLOR PÚRPURA, película dirigida por Sam Blitz Bazawe y producida por Oprah Winfrey que adapta el musical de Broadway basado en la novela de Alice Walker.

THE COLOR PURPLE is Now in UK Cinemas; Soundtrack Also Available Now!


The highly-anticipated motion picture The Color Purple has been released today in UK cinemas. A film about empowerment, the film's accompanying soundtrack, ‘The Color Purple (Music From and Inspired By)', is also available now.

THE COLOR PURPLE Tops NAACP Image Award Nominations - Full List of Nominees!


The NAACP Image Award Nominations have been announced, with The Color Purple leading with a total of 16 nominations, with nods for Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Halle Bailey, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, and more. Check out the full list of nominations now!

Watch the First 10 Minutes of THE COLOR PURPLE With Whoopi Goldberg, 'Mysterious Ways' & More


The first 10 minutes of The Color Purple have been released, featuring Whoopi Goldberg's cameo and the opening number, 'Mysterious Ways.' The video also features Tamela Mann, Halle Bailey, David Alan Grier, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Deon Cole. It opens with Bailey and Mpasi singing 'Huckleberry Pie' as Celie and Nettie.

THE COLOR PURPLE, MAESTRO & More Nominated For SAG Awards - Full List of Nominations!


This morning, nominees for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® honoring outstanding individual, cast and ensemble performances for the past year were announced. Check out the full list of nominations, which include Danielle Brooks, Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Hannah Waddingham, the cast of The Gilded Age, and more.

THE COLOR PURPLE Classes Come to Peloton This Month


A lineup of special The Color Purple classes are coming to Peloton, as part of the Broadway series. The classes will feature music from the 2023 film.

THE COLOR PURPLE Box Office Numbers Fall After Christmas Opening


The Color Purple made an estimated $4.8 million from 3,218 theaters in the United States and Canada this weekend. This puts the film in seventh place at the box office, behind George Clooney’s “The Boys in the Boat,' which is open at only 2,687 theaters.

Barack Obama Places THE COLOR PURPLE Among His Favorite Films of 2023; Says He 'Loved It'


Barack Obama has added The Color Purple as a late addition to his favorite films of 2023. The former President took to X to share that he 'loved it,' receiving an enthusiastic response from Danielle Brooks. Read the reviews of the film now and find out its latest box office update!

Why Oprah Didn't Make a Cameo in THE COLOR PURPLE Movie Musical


Oprah Winfrey is opening up about the surprise cameo in The Color Purple and why she didn't make one herself. While she turned down a potential appearance in the film, the media mogul thinks that Whoopi Goldberg's cameo is 'more special' in the film.

THE COLOR PURPLE Hits $25 Million at the Box Office


The Color Purple has hit $25 million at the box office, building on its impressive $18 million debut. The box office feat shows displays a resurgence for movie musicals at the box office, setting the stage for Mean Girls on January 12.

THE COLOR PURPLE Tops Christmas Day Box Office With $18 Million Debut; Ties With LES MISERABLES


The Color Purple topped the Christmas Day box office with a $18 million debut. The film's debut was 'much bigger' than was anticipated, tying with 2012's Les Miserables film for Christmas Day grosses in movie theaters. The film stars Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Colman Domingo, and more.

Taraji P. Henson 'Almost Had to Walk Away' From THE COLOR PURPLE Over Low Salary; Discusses Income Inequality For Black Actresses


While discussing the salary inequality that Black women face in the entertainment industry, Taraji P. Henson said she 'almost had to walk away' from The Color Purple after not seeing a raise in her income since 2018. She cites Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Halle Bailey, and Phylicia Pearl Mpasi as people she wants to set an example for.

A Guide to THE COLOR PURPLE Musical Songs: What Was Cut & Added For the New Movie Musical


The Color Purple movie musical features several new songs with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. With the additional of new material, some of the songs from the stage production have been cut. Check out a guide to new and old songs from The Color Purple on Broadway and on screen below!

Review Roundup: THE COLOR PURPLE Movie Musical Starring Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks & More; What Did the Critics Think?


Read the reviews for The Color Puprle movie musical! It stars Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks reprising the roles that they previously played on Broadway, plus Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, and more. Find out what critics thought of Oprah Winfrey's new film now!

Photos: See Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson & More in THE COLOR PURPLE Movie Musical


The new stills feature updated looks at Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Colman Domingo, Halle Bailey, Louis Gossett Jr., and more with director Blitz Bazawule in The Color Purple. Check out photos of songs like 'What About Love,' 'Push Da Button,' 'Dear God - Shug,' and 'She Be Mine' now!

Listen: THE COLOR PURPLE Musical Film Official Soundtrack is Available Now


The Official Soundtrack for the forthcoming The Color Purple musical film is available now!  ‘The Color Purple (Music From and Inspired By)' Soundtrack is a powerhouse R&B/Pop album, featuring the film's ensemble cast. Listen to the album here!

Oprah Faced Pressure to Cast Beyoncé & Rihanna in THE COLOR PURPLE


Oprah has revealed that she faced pressure to cast stars like Beyoncé and Rihanna in The Color Purple movie musical. Winfrey shared that while the original film was a commercial success, there was still concern from producers over selling the movie musical adaptation to audiences.

Interview: Phylicia Pearl Mpasi on Going From THE LION KING to THE COLOR PURPLE


Following several runs as a swing in The Lion King on Broadway, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi is playing Young Celie in the new movie musical adaptation of The Color Purple. BroadwayWorld sat down with Mpasi to discuss the transition from stage to screen, sharing the role of Celie with Fantasia Barrino, how Halle Bailey supported her on set, and more.

Video: Watch Danielle Brooks Sing 'Hell No!' In THE COLOR PURPLE Trailer


A new trailer for The Color Purple has been released, featuring Danielle Brooks singing 'Hell No!' Megan Thee Stallion will be featured on a remix of 'Hell No!' on the soundtrack. Watch the video, also with Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, H.E.R., Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Jon Batiste, and more.

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