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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE

WiCkEDrOcKS

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joined:6/13/04

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6/13/04

Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #1
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:02pm

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/185747/youre-gonna-love-shug-tony-winning-dreamgirls-star-jennifer-holliday-to-join-the-color-purple-on-broadway/

Beginning October 4th.

Current Avatar: Cynthia Erivo, bringing down the house in The Color Purple.

Updated On: 8/24/16 at 03:02 PM

IdinaBellFoster

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joined:11/5/06

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #2
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:02pm

Awful decision.

"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards

backwoodsbarbie

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joined:7/31/09

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #3
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:03pm

Apparently age doesn't matter anymore.

http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com

BrodyFosse123

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joined:2/27/06

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #4
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:07pm

Ouch! This is going to be a mess. They're going to have to fine her for her vocal theatrics as it'll ruin the tone of the revival. Oh, boy.

ChairinMain

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joined:4/2/07

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #5
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:07pm

Eh....the show covers a period of Shug's life when she's, what, 30s to 50s? Heather Hedley's 41. Jennifer Holiday's only 9 years older. if she can sing it (she can) and act it (I think so?) I'm down.

kingslim

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joined:5/5/11

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #6
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:08pm

Horrible casting. No disrespect to Ms Holliday but this isn't the right role for her. I guess the producers are going in a whole different direction.

nasty_khakis

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joined:3/15/07

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3/15/07

Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #7
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:11pm

I wonder if John Doyle had any decision in this casting. I'd hate for this production to turn into a Chicago-style rotation. Wendy Williams IS Sophia!

neonlightsxo

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joined:7/29/08

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7/29/08

Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #8
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:14pm

I don't really have an opinion on how she'll be in the role, but I do think they're overestimating her box office appeal.

Jordan Catalano

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joined:10/9/05

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #9
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:14pm

Oh, please. This is amazing news and you queens are gonna line up to see this.

tja928

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joined:3/16/15

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #10
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:15pm

I'll reserve judgment until we see some videos. She definitley has the talent. Interesting choice, looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

Updated On: 8/24/16 at 03:15 PM

Valentina3

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joined:2/26/16

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #11
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:15pm

Okay tell me ONE person (on this board) who wouldn't actually go to see the show?

I sure af would. She's phenomenal. Heather's theatrics and vocals felt like they wouldn't suit the show either, but she made it work. And work magnificently. This is brilliant casting choice.

*insert customary "at least they didn't cast Todrick Hall" joke here*

Updated On: 8/24/16 at 03:15 PM

Diva_Dom

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joined:7/4/14

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #12
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:18pm

Having seen the show 34 time, I'm intrigued to see what she does with Shug Avery. I think she'll be great. I cannot wait to see he ron October 4th

mpd4165

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joined:8/6/09

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #13
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:30pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Oh, please. This is amazing news and you queens are gonna line up to see this.

"

THANK YOU.

ray-andallthatjazz86

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joined:8/2/05

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #14
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:47pm

Oh, man, Heather Headley is stunning as Shug. My concern is that Holliday's over-the-top acting will clash with Erivo's delicate, nuanced, transcendent turn as Celie. Still, I think there's something exciting about this choice, Doyle is definitely taking a lot of risks with the people he's chosen to play Shug and so far they have paid off. With some rigor and restrain, Holliday will be spectacular.

"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

adamgreer

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joined:3/18/05

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #15
Posted: 8/24/16 at 3:54pm

Push 'Da Button will now be 19 minutes long.

My name is neither "adam" nor "greer."

nasty_khakis

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joined:3/15/07

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #16
Posted: 8/24/16 at 4:01pm

adamgreer said: "Push 'Da Button will now be 19 minutes long."

And even less subtle.

CarlosAlberto

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joined:6/29/10

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #17
Posted: 8/24/16 at 4:07pm

adamgreer said: "Push 'Da Button will now be 19 minutes long.

Thank you adamgreer for being the cause of me spitting out my afternoon coffee all over my MacBook's screen. Thank you very much. Grrrr!!!

It's handled.

Jordan Catalano

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joined:10/9/05

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #18
Posted: 8/24/16 at 4:12pm

But can we please just have -

Celie - Sheryl Lee Ralph
Shug - Jennifer Holliday
Sophia - Loretta Devine
Mister - Obba Babatundé
Nettie - Deborah Burrell
Harpo - Cleavant Derricks

Updated On: 8/24/16 at 04:12 PM

CarlosAlberto

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joined:6/29/10

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #19
Posted: 8/24/16 at 4:25pm

Jordan Catalano said: "But can we please just have -

Celie - Sheryl Lee Ralph
Shug - Jennifer Holliday
Sophia - Loretta Devine
Mister - Obba Babatundé
Nettie - Deborah Burrell
Harpo - Cleavant Derricks

LMAO!!! Now that's a cast!! **Genius!**

It's handled.

perfectlymarvelous

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joined:5/21/07

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #20
Posted: 8/24/16 at 4:28pm

HA HA.

Littleshopofcarrie

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #21
Posted: 8/24/16 at 4:41pm

Didn't she play Sofia a few years back?

CarlosAlberto

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #22
Posted: 8/24/16 at 4:43pm

Littleshopofcarrie said: "Didn't she play Sofia a few years back?

She most certainly did. - Mini tour back in 2014.

From Broadway.com article dated: October 17, 2014:

Jennifer Holliday Will Lead The Color Purple
Tony winner Jennifer Holliday will headline a three-city-tour of The Color Purple. The Dreamgirls star revealed on her Facebook page that she’ll take on the role of Sofia in the tuner, starting performances next week in Detroit. This production is not to be confused with director John Doyle’s version, which is co-produced by Oprah, although of course we’d love to see Holliday leading that one too.

It's handled.

Updated On: 8/24/16 at 04:43 PM

BrodyFosse123

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #23
Posted: 8/24/16 at 4:50pm

Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE

KJisgroovy

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joined:1/30/04

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #24
Posted: 8/24/16 at 5:11pm

Well I think this is terrific. Shug isn't the hardest part to play.

Will she act it as well as Heather Headley? Heavens no... but I think her persona... a talent not quite as exceptional as it once was... a little too over the top for her own good... might add some interesting elements to the character.

The scenes between Shug and Celie will suffer a bit... but Cynthia really carries that arch on her own... I don't think it will diminish her performance any.

Any idea if Cynthia will extend? Any idea if the show will even make it to October?

Jesus saves. I spend.

ACL2006

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joined:2/11/06

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Jennifer Holliday to join THE COLOR PURPLE #25
Posted: 8/24/16 at 5:27pm

I have to imagine Erivo's extending through Jan. 8 with the likelihood that the show closes that day as well. Unless the can get a big name to replace Erivo, I really can see the show surviving without her.

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour will be starting up in Somerville, NJ on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City, MO(May 29-Jun 3) and is now then touring throughout Japan August & September 2018. Japan schedule: Tokyo(Aug 15-21), Kanagawa(Aug 28-29), Shizuoka(Aug 30), Osaka(Aug 31 - Sept 2).