Hillbarn Theatre to Present THE COLOR PURPLE, 5/8 - 6/1

Hillbarn Theatre closes its 73rd season with the moving, The Color Purple. An inspiring family saga that tells the unforgettable story of Celie, a downtrodden woman who - through love - finds the strength to triumph over adversity and find her unique voice in the world. The musical adaptation of Alice Walker's award winning novel and landmark film by director Steven Spielberg comes to vivid life on the stage. Set to a moving score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, and blues, The Color Purple is a story of hope, a tribute to the healing power of love and a celebration of life. Hillbarn Theatre's production of The Color Purple plays for fifteen performances, May 9 through June 1, 2014 (Preview May 10th) at Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 East Hillsdale Blvd. Foster City, CA. Tickets are on sale now at hillbarntheatre.org or by calling 650.349.6411.

Spanning nearly 40 years, The Color Purple tells the story of main character, Celie's journey to find herself. While very young, Celie was separated from her children and sister, Nettie, and married off to Mr. ________, a husband who treats her cruelly. However, when strong-willed Sofia and tender Shug enter her life, Celie learns to love and take care of herself. Ben Brantley of The New York Times said, "Time doesn't just fly...it threatens to break the sound barrier. From the brass-warmed opening bars of its eclectic overture, this musical has an on-your-mark, get-set quality that promises that pages will be flying off the calendar as if in a tornado."

Director Lee Foster, said, "The Color Purple is one of the most beautiful stories of perseverance you will ever see. It is the perfect show to close out our Season of Truth; we follow the journey of many characters, especially Celie, as they navigate their different roads of learning, forgiveness, and redemption. By the end, many find the truth of one's destiny."

The cast of The Color Purple is as follows:

Celie Leslie Ivy (San Leandro)

Nettie Jacqueline Dennis (Berkeley)

Shug Dawn L. Troupe* (San Ramon)

Mr. ________ Anthone Jackson (Newark)

Sofia Jihan Sabir (Oakland)

Harpo Brian M. Landry (Oakland)

Squeak Damaris Divito (San Jose)

Church Lady Ladidi Garba (San Jose)

Church Lady Debra Harvey (El Sobrante)

Church Lady Pam Drummer-Williams (El Sobrante)

Pa, Ensemble Andy Serrano (Pacifica)

Ol' Mister, Ensemble Max Williams (Foster City)

Olivia, Ensemble AnJu Hyppolite (Oakland)

Odessa, Ensemble Phaedra Johnson (San Leandro)

Glodene, Ensemble Samantha Moorer (Palo Alto)

Grady, Ensemble Kevin Stanford (Belmont)

Preacher, Chief, Ensemble Gary Stanford, Jr. (Woodside)

Piano Player, Ensemble Willie Swann (Foster City)

Ensemble Leylan Williams (San Jose)

Adam, Ensemble Dimitri Woods (Santa Clara)

Daisy, Ensemble Maya Benjamin (Foster City)

Young Celie, Ensemble NuPhaeya Hassen (San Leandro)

Young Nettie, Young Olivia, Ensemble Kiara Johnson (Foster City)

*Appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association

Lee Foster will direct The Color Purple. Lee has been at Hillbarn since 1997 and was promoted to Executive Producing Director in 2009. She has an MBA from University of San Francisco and an MFA from Notre Dame de Namur University. Lee is also the Executive Director of Diablo Ballet in Walnut Creek and the Fremont Symphony Orchestra in Fremont as part of Hillbarn's management alliance to assist smaller non-profits and support working artists. Recent directing credits include the Hillbarn hit, Ragtime and Lucky Stiff at Crystal Springs Uplands School.

The Color Purple includes set design by Kuo-Hao Lo, technical direction by Steve Nyberg, lighting design by Don Coluzzi, sound design by Alan Chang, costume design by Margaret Toomey, and wig and hair design by Dee Morrissey.

Opening night for The Color Purple is Friday, May 9, 2014 and the play runs through Sunday, June 1, 2014. The curtain lifts at 8:00 pm Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and 2:00 pm on Sundays. Ticket prices are $23-38 for adults and seniors; for student prices please call the box office at 650.349.6411. The Color Purple tickets can also be purchased online athillbarntheatre.org,

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About Hillbarn Theatre

Since 1941, the historic Hillbarn Theatre has served the San Francisco Bay Area by embracing this founding ideal - to create theatre with the community, for the community, striving always for excellence in production and education. Hillbarn has won a Theater Critics Circle Award, was accepted at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival, was honored with several mayoral proclamations for excellence in theatrical production and education, received three Dean Goodman Awards for Artistic Excellence, and a Foster City Honors Award for Executive Director Lee Foster.

FOR CALENDAR EDITORS:

What: Hillbarn Theatre closes its 73rd season with the moving, The Color Purple. An inspiring family saga that tells the unforgettable story of Celie, a downtrodden woman who - through love - finds the strength to triumph over adversity and find her unique voice in the world. Set to a moving score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, and blues, The Color Purple is a story of hope, a tribute to the healing power of love and a celebration of life. Hillbarn Theatre's production of The Color Purple plays for fifteen performances, May 9 through June 1, 2014 (Preview May 10th) at Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 East Hillsdale Blvd. Foster City, CA. Tickets are on sale now athillbarntheatre.org or by calling 650.349.6411.

Who: Book: Marsha Norman

Music and Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray Based upon the novel written by: Alice Walker Producer: Dan Demers Director: Lee Foster Musical Director/Conductor: Greg Sudmeier Choreographer: Jayne Zaban Scenic Designer: Kuo-Hao Lo Lighting Designer: Don Coluzzi Costume Designer: Margaret Toomey Sound Designer: Alan Chang Properties Designer: A.J. Diggins Hair/Wig Designer: Dee Morrissey

Dates: May 9 - June 1, 2014 (Preview May 8th)

Time: Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm

Location: Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 East Hillsdale Blvd. Foster City, CA 94404

Tickets: $23-38 for Adults and Seniors, 650.349.6411 or online at hillbarntheatre.org Also available 60 minutes prior to curtain at Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 East Hillsdale Blvd. Foster City, CA ; Students 17 and younger (with current student ID) please call 650.349.6411 for pricing.

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