Published January 23, 2009 05:04 pm -
‘Color Purple’ plays in Tulsa
TULSA — The Broadway smash hit “The Color Purple, The Musical about Love,” is being presented Saturday and Sunday at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.
Nominated for 11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, “The Color Purple” opened on Dec. 1, 2006, at the Broadway Theatre where it ran for over two record-breaking years.
It is based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the moving film by Steven Spielberg.
It is the unforgettable and inspiring story of a woman named Celie, who finds the strength to triumph over adversity, and discover her unique voice in the world. With a joyous Grammy-nominated score featuring gospel, jazz, pop and the blues, “The Color Purple” is about hope and the healing power of love.
As on Broadway, the first North American Tour of the show is directed by Gary Griffin. It features a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning composers/lyricists Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, and choreography by Donald Byrd.
The original creative team of Tony Award-winner John Lee Beatty (sets), Paul Tazewell (costumes), Tony Award-winner Brian MacDevitt (lighting), Jon Weston (sound), Jonathan Tunick (orchestrations) and Kevin Stites (music supervisor) was reunited for the tour.
The first North American Tour is produced by Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Quincy Jones, Creative Battery, Anna Fantaci and Cheryl Lachowicz, Independent Presenters Network, Lowy Family Group, Stephanie McClelland, Gary Winnick, Jan Kallish, Nederlander Presentations Inc., Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Andrew Asnes and Adam Zotovich and Todd Johnson, and is produced in special association with AEG Live.
It is welcomed by the Oklahoma Heart Institute. Celebrity Attractions is proud to have American Airlines, News Channel 6 and Tulsa World as sponsors.