This Month, the Original Broadway Production of The Color Purple Turns 20; The Revival Turns 10 | Playbill

Playbill Vault This Month, the Original Broadway Production of The Color Purple Turns 20; The Revival Turns 10

December is a big month for the musical.

LaChanze and Elisabeth Withers-Mendes in the original Broadway production of The Color Purple (2005) and Cynthia Erivo in The Color Purple Revival (2015) Paul Kolnik / Matthew Murphy

On December 1, 2005, the musical adaptation of Alice Walker's The Color Purple opened on Broadway. Then, a decade later, on December 10, 2015, the revival of The Color Purple opened on Broadway. Then on December 25, 2023, the film adaptation of The Color Purple musical opened in movie theatres—showing that December truly is the month to stand up and declare "I'm Here."

The musical is a classic for numerous reasons: the score by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray; Walker's story of sisterhood brought to the stage for a new generation; and the many stars that are part of its family. LaChanze played Celie in the original production and earned a Tony Award for it; a decade later, Cynthia Erivo played Celie and also received a Tony Award.

The other alums of The Color Purple include Fantasia Barrino (who played Celie in the movie adaptation), Michelle Williams, Jennifer Hudson, Danielle BrooksTaraji P. HensonRenée Elise GoldsberryJoaquina Kalukango, and many more.

Below, look back on the numerous stage productions of The Color Purple.

Look Back at the Original and Revival Productions of The Color Purple

 
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