The Color Purple to Launch National Tour in Chicago

The Color Purple will soon be spreading across the U.S., with a national tour set to launch in April of 2007.

According to an article in The Omaha World-Herald, the musical will kick off its national tour on April 17th at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre and settle down for a six-month run. It will then play venues in Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Denver and Atlanta, among other cities to be announced. Casting and more dates have also yet to be announced.

"What we are finding is that the people who are coming to New York keep telling us how much they wish their friends and families back home could experience what the audiences are experiencing ...on Broadway," stated Scott Sanders, one of the show's producers, on the decision to tour The Color Purple.

The Color Purple began preview performances at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway) in New York on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 before its official opening night on Thursday, December 1, 2005.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning Alice Walker novel and the Oscar-winning 1985 Steven Speilberg film that it inspired, The Color Purple features LaChanze as Celie, the musical's central character in its story of incest, pain, love and redemption. The hit show boasts Oprah Winfrey (who was featured in the film) among its producing team. Darlesia Cearcy, Kingsley Leggs, Brandon Dixon, Felicia P. Fields, Elizabeth Withers-Mendes and Krisha Marcano are among the show's cast, as well.

The Color Purple is directed by Gary Griffin, while Marsha Norman (Pulitzer Prize-winner for 'night, Mother, The Secret Garden) wrote the book. The show's eclectic score, which blends gospel, pop, ragtime and blues, was penned by pop tunesmiths Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. Donald Byrd is The Color Purple's choreographer, while the design team design team comprises John Lee Beatty (sets), Paul Tazewell (costumes), Brian MacDevitt (lighting), and Jon Weston (sound). Orchestrations were provided by Jonathan Tunick, Kevin Stites is the music supervisor and Linda Twine the musical director.

Oprah Winfrey, 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 and Adam Zotovich, and Todd Johnson are the show's producers.

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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