Goldsberry to Depart The Color Purple Soon After Dec. 1 Opening

By: Oct. 26, 2005
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Due to her pregnancy, Renee Elise Goldsberry will exit The Color Purple shortly after its opening on December 1st.

While Goldsberry's departure has been confirmed by a production spokesperson, no exact date has been set.  A replacement has not yet been announced for Goldsberry's role of Nettie, who is the sister of protagonist Celie.

The Color Purple, which will begin previews at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd St.) on November 1st, will feature LaChanze as Celie, the central character in the musical's story of incest, pain, love and redemption. The star was also seen in that role when the musical premiered at Atlanta's ALLIANCE THEATRE in 2004 (to generally positive reviews). In that production, Felicia P. Fields played the volatile and Sofia and Kingsley Leggs appeared as Mister; those two performers will return to the Broadway production alongside Goldsberry (Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Lion King) as Nettie and Elisabeth Withers as Shug. The show will also feature Brandon Victor Dixon as Harpo and Krisha Marcano as Squeak.

As in Atlanta, Gary Griffin (A Little Night Music at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Pacific Overtures in Chicago and London) will direct the musical. Marsha Norman (Pulitzer Prize-winner for 'night, Mother, The Secret Garden) wrote the book, while the eclectic score, which blends gospel, pop, ragtime and blues, was penned by pop tunesmiths Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. Donald Byrd has replaced Atlanta's Ken Robertson as The Color Purple's choreographer, while the design team design team still comprises John Lee Beatty (sets), Paul Tazewell (costumes), Brian MacDevitt (lighting), and Jon Weston (sound). Orchestrations will be provided by Jonathan Tunick, while Kevin Stites is the music supervisor and Linda Twine the musical director.  Oprah Winfrey spearheads its group of producers.

Speilberg's 1985 film, which starred Whoopi Goldberg as Celie, Winfrey as Sofia and Danny Glover as Albert, was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Tickets for The Color Purple can be purchased by calling (212) 239-6200 or visiting the Broadway Theatre's box office.

For more information, visit www.colorpurple.com.




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