LaTrisa A. Coleman

Original The Color Purple Broadway cast member, Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, who has played the role of Shug Avery since the musical began performances at the Broadway Theatre in November 2005 and throughout its entire record-breaking run, will begin a hiatus from the role on Thursday, January 31, 2008. The Tony nominated actress will return to the role for the final two performances of The Color Purple on Sunday, February 24, 2008. Beginning on Friday, February 1, 2008, Angela Robinson assumes the role of Shug Avery while Withers-Mendes is on leave.

The producers of The Color Purple announced today that the show will play its final performance on Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 7:30pm, after playing 30 preview performances and 910 regular performances at the Broadway Theatre.

An array of Broadway stars performed in Scream Out Louise!, a benefit for at-risk families, at Joe's Pub on Monday, March 26th at 7PM.

'We wanted to show our dressers how much they mean to us,' said Felicia P. Fields, who, along with cast members LaTrisa A. Coleman, Krisha Marcano and Angela Robinson, organized the first 'Dresser Appreciation Day,' celebrated between shows of The Color Purple on Wednesday, October 11 at the Broadway Theatre

LaChanze and other The Color Purple stars turned out to Angus McIndoe on January 10th to listen to a preview of the show's cast recording