The Color Purple, With Jennifer Hudson and Cynthia Erivo, Opens on Broadway; Red Carpet, Curtain Call and Party! | Playbill

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News The Color Purple, With Jennifer Hudson and Cynthia Erivo, Opens on Broadway; Red Carpet, Curtain Call and Party! The Broadway revival of The Color Purple, starring Jennifer Hudson and Cynthia Erivo, opened Dec. 10 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, marking the Broadway debuts of both actresses. Opening night coverage here!

December 11, 2015

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.

The Color Purple, With Jennifer Hudson and Cynthia Erivo, Opens on Broadway; Red Carpet, Curtain Call and Party!

Cynthia Erivo — The Color Purple, With Jennifer Hudson and Cynthia Erivo, Opens on Broadway; Red Carpet, Curtain Call and Party!

The Broadway revival of The Color Purple, starring Jennifer Hudson and Cynthia Erivo, opened Dec. 10 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, marking the Broadway debuts of both actresses. Opening night coverage here!
145 PHOTOS

Curtain call — Curtain call

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Kyle Scatliffe — Kyle Scatliffe

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Joaquina Kalukango — Joaquina Kalukango

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Isaiah Johnson — Isaiah Johnson

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Isaiah Johnson — Isaiah Johnson

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Isaiah Johnson — Isaiah Johnson

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Danielle Brooks — Danielle Brooks

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Danielle Brooks — Danielle Brooks

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Jennifer Hudson — Jennifer Hudson

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Jennifer Hudson — Jennifer Hudson

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Jennifer Hudson — Jennifer Hudson

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Jennifer Hudson — Jennifer Hudson

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The company — The company

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Jennifer Hudson — Jennifer Hudson

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Jennifer Hudson — Jennifer Hudson

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Danielle Brooks — Danielle Brooks

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The company — The company

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Jennifer Hudson and Cynthia Erivo — Jennifer Hudson and Cynthia Erivo

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John Doyle — John Doyle

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Marsha Norman, Scott Sanders, Stephen Bray, Brenda Russell, Alice Walker and Allee Willis — Marsha Norman, Scott Sanders, Stephen Bray, Brenda Russell, Alice Walker and Allee Willis

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Marsha Norman — Marsha Norman

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Scott Sanders — Scott Sanders

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Stephen Bray — Stephen Bray

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Stephen Bray — Stephen Bray

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Brenda Russell — Brenda Russell

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Alice Walker — Alice Walker

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Alice Walker — Alice Walker

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Allee Willis — Allee Willis

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Alice Walker and Allee Willis — Alice Walker and Allee Willis

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Scott Sanders and Alice Walker — Scott Sanders and Alice Walker

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Uzo Aduba and Harvey Fierstein — Uzo Aduba and Harvey Fierstein

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Uzo Aduba — Uzo Aduba

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Uzo Aduba — Uzo Aduba

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Margaret Avery — Margaret Avery

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Margaret Avery — Margaret Avery

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David Babani — David Babani

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Becky Ann Baker — Becky Ann Baker

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Becky Ann Baker and Marin Mazzie — Becky Ann Baker and Marin Mazzie

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Ellen Burstyn — Ellen Burstyn

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Laverne Cox — Laverne Cox

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Laverne Cox — Laverne Cox

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Laverne Cox — Laverne Cox

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Chelsea Fairless and Lea DeLaria — Chelsea Fairless and Lea DeLaria

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Tamron Hall — Tamron Hall

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Tamron Hall — Tamron Hall

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Gayle King — Gayle King

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Gayle King — Gayle King

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Marin Mazzie — Marin Mazzie

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Nigel Lythgoe — Nigel Lythgoe

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Nigel Lythgoe — Nigel Lythgoe

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Suze Orman — Suze Orman

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Kathy Travis and Suze Orman — Kathy Travis and Suze Orman

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Taylor Schilling — Taylor Schilling

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Taylor Schilling — Taylor Schilling

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Valerie Simpson — Valerie Simpson

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Randy Spelling and Candy Spelling — Randy Spelling and Candy Spelling

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Candy Spelling — Candy Spelling

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Randy Spelling — Randy Spelling

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David Otunga — David Otunga

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David Otunga — David Otunga

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Next Slide

Nick Schmit and Jonathan Capehart — Nick Schmit and Jonathan Capehart

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Nonso Anozie — Nonso Anozie

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Valerie Simpson and Irene Gandy — Valerie Simpson and Irene Gandy

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Jeremy Pope — Jeremy Pope

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Jeremy Pope — Jeremy Pope

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Jill Furman and Roy Furman — Jill Furman and Roy Furman

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Tobias Larson and Tommy Tune — Tobias Larson and Tommy Tune

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Tommy Tune — Tommy Tune

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Chondra La-Tease Profit — Chondra La-Tease Profit

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Chondra La-Tease Profit — Chondra La-Tease Profit

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Adriane Lenox — Adriane Lenox

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Mark Kaufman and Stacy Kaufman — Mark Kaufman and Stacy Kaufman

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Freddie Jackson — Freddie Jackson

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Freddie Jackson — Freddie Jackson

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Freddie Jackson — Freddie Jackson

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Freddie Jackson — Freddie Jackson

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Angela Robinson — Angela Robinson

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Angela Robinson — Angela Robinson

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Nora Ariffin and Duncan Sheik — Nora Ariffin and Duncan Sheik

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Gloria Steinem — Gloria Steinem

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Yael Stone — Yael Stone

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Yael Stone — Yael Stone

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Shanice_Williams_HR — Shanice Williams

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Shanice Williams — Shanice Williams

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Andrea Scales and Shanice Williams — Andrea Scales and Shanice Williams

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Gabourey Sidibe — Gabourey Sidibe

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Gabourey Sidibe — Gabourey Sidibe

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Gabourey Sidibe — Gabourey Sidibe

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Adrienne Moore — Adrienne Moore

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Adrienne Moore — Adrienne Moore

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Patina Miller — Patina Miller

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Patina Miller — Patina Miller

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David Mars and Patina Miller — David Mars and Patina Miller

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George C. Wolfe and Savion Glover — George C. Wolfe and Savion Glover

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Savion Glover — Savion Glover

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Neil Patrick Harris — Neil Patrick Harris

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Neil Patrick Harris — Neil Patrick Harris

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Emilio Sosa and Phylicia Rashad — Emilio Sosa and Phylicia Rashad

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Phylicia Rashad — Phylicia Rashad

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Samira Wiley — Samira Wiley

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Georgia Stitt — Georgia Stitt

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Kate Mulgrew — Kate Mulgrew

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Kate Mulgrew — Kate Mulgrew

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Selenis Leyva — Selenis Leyva

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Selenis Leyva — Selenis Leyva

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Selenis Leyva — Selenis Leyva

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Kyle Scatliffe — Kyle Scatliffe

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Kyle Scatliffe — Kyle Scatliffe

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Kevyn Morrow — Kevyn Morrow

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Kevyn Morrow — Kevyn Morrow

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Isaiah Johnson — Isaiah Johnson

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Isaiah Johnson — Isaiah Johnson

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Isaiah Johnson — Isaiah Johnson

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Savannah Frazier and Kyle Scatliffe — Savannah Frazier and Kyle Scatliffe

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Grasan Kingsberry — Grasan Kingsberry

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Grasan Kingsberry — Grasan Kingsberry

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Jennifer Hudson — Jennifer Hudson

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Jennifer Hudson — Jennifer Hudson

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Jennifer Hudson — Jennifer Hudson

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Jennifer Hudson — Jennifer Hudson

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Danielle Brooks — Danielle Brooks

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Danielle Brooks — Danielle Brooks

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Danielle Brooks — Danielle Brooks

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Danielle Brooks — Danielle Brooks

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Cynthia Erivo — Cynthia Erivo

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Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo and Danielle Brooks — Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo and Danielle Brooks

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Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo and Danielle Brooks — Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo and Danielle Brooks

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Joaquina Kalukango — Joaquina Kalukango

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Joaquina Kalukango — Joaquina Kalukango

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Joaquina Kalukango — Joaquina Kalukango

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Stephen Bray, Marsha Norman and Allee Willis — Stephen Bray, Marsha Norman and Allee Willis

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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. 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.

"Really? Me, as Shug?" — Why Jennifer Hudson Is Stepping Into a Role (and a Broadway Debut) She Never Imagined

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.