The Verdict: Read Reviews for Broadway Color Purple Revival, With Jennifer Hudson and Cynthia Erivo

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

Joaquina Kalukango

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Next Slide

Jennifer Hudson and Cynthia Erivo

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

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

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Alice Walker and Allee Willis

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Scott Sanders and Alice Walker

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Uzo Aduba and Harvey Fierstein

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Becky Ann Baker and Marin Mazzie

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Chelsea Fairless and Lea DeLaria

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Kathy Travis and Suze Orman

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Randy Spelling and Candy Spelling

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Nick Schmit and Jonathan Capehart

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Valerie Simpson and Irene Gandy

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Jill Furman and Roy Furman

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Tobias Larson and Tommy Tune

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Chondra La-Tease Profit

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Mark Kaufman and Stacy Kaufman

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Nora Ariffin and Duncan Sheik

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Shanice_Williams_HR — Shanice Williams

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Andrea Scales and Shanice Williams

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

David Mars and Patina Miller

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

George C. Wolfe and Savion Glover

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Neil Patrick Harris

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Emilio Sosa and Phylicia Rashad

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Savannah Frazier and Kyle Scatliffe

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo and Danielle Brooks

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Stephen Bray, Marsha Norman and Allee Willis

Joseph Marzullo/WENN

You may also like

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.

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

The critics are filing their reviews, and Playbill.com will continue to update them for our readers.

amNY

Associated Press

Chicago Tribune

Deadline

Entertainment Weekly

The Hollywood Reporter

The Huffington Post

Los Angeles Times

NBC New York

Newsday

New York Post

The New York Times

NJ.com

NY Daily News

Time Out NY

TheWrap

USA Today

Variety

Vulture

The Wall Street Journal

Washington Post

This pared-down revival, which was first seen at London's Menier Chocolate Factory, directed and designed by Tony winner Doyle (The Visit, Sweeney Todd, Company), officially opened on Broadway Dec. 10. 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.

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.

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

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

PLAYBILL SITES

CONTACT PLAYBILL

FOLLOW PLAYBILL NOW