The production opened to rave reviews Dec. 10 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. The album was recorded Dec. 14 and was scheduled for release Jan. 29 on the Broadway Records label. It was initially rescheduled to Feb. 12, and now has been pushed back to Feb. 19, according to a record company spokesperson. The CD may arrive sooner for those who have pre-ordered. No reason for the postponement was given. Six-time Grammy Award winner Frank Filipetti is producing the album.
The album is available for pre-order at Amazon.com and at BroadwayRecords.com.
Based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a young woman who overcomes oppression and violence in her own home to discover her true self, The Color Purple features Grammy, Academy Award and Golden Globe Award winner Hudson as Shug Avery opposite Erivo, star of John Doyle's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production in London, as Celie, and "Orange is the New Black" star Danielle Brooks as Sofia.
This pared-down revival, which was first seen at London's Menier Chocolate Factory, was directed and designed by Tony winner Doyle (The Visit, Sweeney Todd, Company).
The principal cast also features Isaiah Johnson as Mister, Joaquina Kalukango as Nettie and Kyle Scatliffe as Harpo.
The musical, which was first seen on Broadway in 2005, was adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Marsha Norman, with music and lyrics by Grammy Award winners Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. It ran 917 performances.
Also in the company are Phoenix Best, Dwayne Clark, Lawrence Clayton, Carrie Compere, Patrice Covington, Adrianna Hicks, Bre Jackson, Grasan Kingsberry, Kevyn Morrow, Ken Robinson, Antoine L. Smith, Carla R. Stewart, Akron Watson and Rema Webb.
The show has scenic design by Doyle, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting design by Jane Cox, sound design by Gregory Clarke, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, music supervision by Catherine Jayes, music direction by Jason Michael Webb and casting by Telsey + Company/Justin Huff, CSA.
The Color Purple is produced on Broadway by Scott Sanders Productions, Roy Furman, Oprah Winfrey, David Babani, Tom Siracusa, Caiola Productions, James Fantaci, Ted Liebowitz, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Nederlander, Darren Bagert, Candy Spelling, Adam Zotovich, Eric Falkenstein/Morris Berchard, Just For Laughs Theatricals/Tanya Link Productions, Adam S. Gordon, Jam Theatricals, Independent Presenters Network.
Visit colorpurple.com.
