Breaking: THE COLOR PURPLE Replaces UNMASKED as Season Opener at Paper Mill Playhouse

[Jessetenny]

Wonder what happened with Unmasked..

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE-COLOR-PURPLE-Replaces-UNMASKED-as-Season-Opener-at-Paper-Mill-Playhouse-20180507

[R. GreenFinch]

Fascinating. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Is this just going to be the touring production?

[Jessetenny]

Call_me_jorge said: "Is this just going to be the touring production?"

It states John Doyle's production so I would assume yes.

[IdinaBellFoster]

I wonder if the lab was messier than expected. 

[ACL2006]

If this is indeed the touring production just extending, I will be seeing this multiple times. Maybe Bre Jackson can join as Celie by then.

[ACL2006]

Checked their website and the tour is slated to close on Aug. 28 in Washington DC. Papermill probably need a last minute replacement to satisfy their subscribers. The tour will just move up north and close at Papermill.

[Jakeevan942]

This will most definitely be the physical production of the tour, but the cast has the potential to have some changes. As the tour is set to close in August, and Paper Mill just booked this with with Troika in the past 10 days, there is the chance that some/all of the cast already have other work booked for after the tour was set to close in late August. The 4 week gap gives them just enough time to rehearse new people, with a week of tech at Paper Mill.

[RippedMan]

Hm. Wonder what happened? Maybe it’s going straight to NYC?

[RippedMan]

Hm. Wonder what happened? Maybe it’s going straight to NYC?

[Elegance101]

Jakeevan942 said: "This will most definitely be the physical production of the tour, but the cast has the potential to have some changes. As the tour is set to close in August, and Paper Mill just booked this with with Troika in the past 10 days, there is the chance that some/all of the cast already have other work booked for after the tour was set to close in late August. The 4 week gap gives them just enough time to rehearse new people, with a week of tech at Paper Mill."

Not saying this will happen, but I can imagine them trying to get someone like Heather Headley to return as Shug or something. But I agree that there might be some cast changes, as contracts aren't signed yet (although maybe it is the tour cast, but they legally can't say that until contracts are signed.

[ACL2006]

since the tour was scheduled to close on Aug. 28 originally, odds are a good chunk of the cast won't be doing the Papermill engagement. I'd love to see Bre Jackson as Celie and to have either Headley or Holiday return as Shug. Or hell, even Rema Webb as Shug. I'm sure we'll hear about casting likely by the end of June.

[Jakeevan942]

I'm sure they are trying to bring in a few names for the principals, but I'd think they are going to offer ensemble tracks to anyone who hasn't booked work for when the tour ends. It's cheaper and easier than rehearsing a full new company.

[SchuylWERKsister]

If Jeanette Bayardelle and Heather Headley were Celie and Shug I would... I actually don’t know how my being would respond to such joy.

[VintageSnarker]

Weird. I wonder how this will sell at Papermill (will subscribers hang on to to their tickets) given that anyone in the area who was interested probably saw the Broadway production not that long ago. I hope they announce some interesting names if the tour cast can't extend.

[darquegk]

Maybe Mandy Patinkin is stepping in.

[Elegance101]

darquegk said: "Maybe Mandy Patinkin is stepping in."

I've heard the man sing "I'm Here." One word: transcendence.