THE COLOR PURPLE With Fantasia Barrino Begins Kennedy Center Performances 6/30

The Kennedy Center recently announced a one week and final extension for the touring production of THE COLOR PURPLE. The musical will now run in the Opera House June 30 through August 9, 2009. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the film by Steven Spielberg, Fantasia Barrino reprises her critically acclaimed role as Celie in the Kennedy Center performances of THE COLOR PURPLE.

As on Broadway, the first North American Tour of THE COLOR PURPLE is directed by Gary Griffin. THE COLOR PURPLE features a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Grammy Award®-winning composers/lyricists Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, and choreography by Donald Byrd. The official press night will take place on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.

Nominated for eleven Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, THE COLOR PURPLE opened on December 1, 2005 at the Broadway Theatre where it ran for over two record breaking years. The musical tells the inspiring story of a woman named Celie, who finds the strength to triumph over adversity, and discover her unique voice in the world. With a joyous Grammy®-nominated score featuring gospel, jazz, pop, and the blues, THE COLOR PURPLE is about hope and the healing power of love.

American Idol Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino will reprise her starring role of Celie for the Washington, D.C. engagement. The Kennedy Center will host the first North American Touring production of THE COLOR PURPLE for six weeks, June 30 - August 9, 2009 in the Opera House. Tickets are on sale now. Fantasia made her Broadway debut in THE COLOR PURPLE on April 10, 2007. She won the 2007 Theater World Award and received rave reviews. As a 19-year old single mother, Fantasia began her path to international stardom when she became the winner of FOX's hugely successful audience-driven singing competition in May 2004. Now 24, Fantasia has garnered critical acclaim for the release of both her debut album, Free Yourself, which marked her becoming the first artist in Billboard Hot 100 chart history to debut at #1 with her debut single "I Believe," and her second album, FANTASIA, released by J Records on December 12, 2006. To date, she has gathered more than 20 award nominations including the Grammy Awards®, American Music Awards, Vibe Awards, Soul Train Awards and Soul Train "Lady of Soul" Awards, Billboard Music Awards and R&B & Hip Hop Awards, BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and Teen Choice Awards. No stranger to acting, Fantasia also broke records of a different kind after authoring a New York Times best-selling autobiography Life Is Not A Fairy Tale (Simon & Schuster, September 2005) and starring in The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairytale, the Debbie Allen-directed Lifetime original movie adaptation of her truthful, outspoken, and ultimately healing memoir in August 2006. For her performance, she was nominated for a 2007 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special. The biopic, also nominated as Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special for the 2007 NAACP Image Awards, ranks as the channel's second most watched movie and has been seen by 19 million viewers. With her Broadway debut as Celie, she added the distinction of being the first ever American Idol winner to star in a Broadway show.

THE COLOR PURPLE features scenic design by Tony Award®-winner John Lee Beatty, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Tony Award®-winner Brian MacDevitt, sound design by Jon Weston, and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. Kevin Stites serves as Music Supervisor for the tour.

The first North American Tour is produced by Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Quincy Jones, Creative Battery, Anna Fantaci & Cheryl Lachowicz, Independent Presenters Network, Lowy Family Group, Stephanie McClelland, Gary Winnick, Jan Kallish, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Andrew Asnes & Adam Zotovich, and Todd Johnson.

The original cast recording is available on EMI/Angel Records, and THE COLOR PURPLE: A Memory Book of the Broadway Musical (Avalon/Carroll & Graf) is available in bookstores now. Ariel Investments is a proud sponsor of THE COLOR PURPLE. For more information about THE COLOR PURPLE, please visit www.colorpurple.com
TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are on sale now. Performances will run Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. with matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. There is a matinee performance on Friday, July 3 at 1:30 p.m. There is no evening performance on July 4. Tickets cost $25-$95 and may be purchased at the Kennedy Center Box Office or by calling Instant Charge at (202) 467-4600. Those patrons living outside the Washington metropolitan calling area may dial toll-free at (800) 444-1324 or visit our website at kennedy-center.org.

Theater at the Kennedy Center is presented with the generous support of

Stephen and Christine Schwarzman.

The Kennedy Center Opera House is equipped with

Harman International Advanced Audio Systems.

For more information, please visit the Kennedy Center website at kennedy-center.org.