The Color Purple at The Umbrella Arts Center

The Umbrella Stage Company presents the musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic novel, The Color Purple, and the 1985 film by Steven Spielberg.

The inspirational story set in the early 1900s follows a young woman, Celie, as she journeys through her childhood experiencing joy, despair, anguish, sisterhood and self-realization to find her voice and power. A story of hope and a testament to the healing power of love, the adaptation features a Tony Award-winning score infused with jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music and blues.

Directed for The Umbrella Stage Company by BW Gonzalez, who appeared in last season’s The Colored Museum; has worked in theatres nationwide; and appeared in the recurring role of Lupe in the Netflix series, Arrested Development.

Shows run Thursday-Saturday at 8PM and Sundays at 3PM, with a number of optional adjacent community events including:

• Thursday, May 18 Night - Post-show Talk Back with the cast
• Friday May 19 - 4PM - Pre-Show African American History of Concord Walking Tour
• Saturday, May 20 - 4PM - Pre-Show Women of Concord Walking Tour
• Sunday, May 21 - Kid-Care Performance*, Community Discussion with Kira Troilo
• Thursday, May 25 Night - Post-show Talk Back with the cast
• Friday, May 26 - 4PM - Pre-Show Women of Concord Walking Tour
• Saturday, May 29 - 4PM - Pre-Show African American History of Concord Walking Tour
• Sunday, May 28 - Brown Out Performance with Post-show Affinity Space
• Friday, June 2 - 4PM - Pre-Show Women of Concord Walking Tour
• Sunday, June 4 - Post-show Talk Back with the cast

Shows are staged in the newly renovated 344-seat, state-of-the-art mainstage theater with easy on-site parking, or a short walk from the commuter rail. The Umbrella is ADA accessible, a proud partner in the Massachusetts Cultural Council's EBT Card-to-Culture program, and provides free parking and free admission to its visual arts galleries, currently hosting the international climate change art exhibition, Points of Return.

The Umbrella partners with several excellent restaurants and hotels to provide day-of-show special offers on meals and overnight stays. See https://theumbrellaarts.org/TCP

(* The Umbrella’s Kid-Care Show Program gives parents the opportunity to attend select performances while their child(ren) engage in art activities inspired by the production. This is a new pilot program aimed at providing better access to arts and culture events and creating a shared experience opportunity for families. Spaces are limited and can be reserved alongside ticket purchases.)