THEATRE + COMEDY

The Color Purple will return to Houston and play a limited one week engagement at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts, August 18 - 23, 2009. The return engagement, presented by Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) was booked in response to the challenges brought on by Hurricane Ike, which caused the cancellation of a full week of sold out performances.

The Color Purple is a story about hope and joy amongst the often difficult challenges that life can present. With that in mind, Theatre Under The Stars and the producers of The Color Purple are particularly pleased to announce the return engagement. "We are so proud to offer our patrons and the city of Houston an additional chance to see this amazing production. It's truly too special and too important a piece of work to miss," says David Greiss, Director of Marketing.

Subscribers, groups and individual ticket holders from the cancelled performances will be offered the first option to purchase seats for the return engagement. Tickets will be made available to the general public beginning on Sunday, May 3, 2009. Patrons are encouraged to check the Theatre Under The Stars website, TUTS.com, or subscribe to the StarMail weekly newsletter for regular updates regarding the return engagement.

Nominated for eleven Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, The Color Purple opened on December 1, 2006 at the Broadway Theatre where it continues its record breaking run. 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.

Michael Kuchwara, the Associated Press described The Color Purple as "a Roof-Raising story of triumph." And Richard Corliss of TIME Magazine said, "[it is] a soaring, epic tale. It made a joyful noise in my heart." Elysa Gardner from USA Today raved, "Pure heart! It celebrates the inspiring relationships of faith and love, A Broadway hit!"

As on Broadway, the first North American Tour of The Color Purple is directed by Gary Griffin. The Color Purple 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 & Cheryl Lachowicz, Independent Presenters Network, Lowy Family Group, Stephanie McClelland, Gary Winnick, Jan Kallish, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Andrew Asnes & Adam Zotovich and Todd Johnson, and is produced in special association with AEG Live.

The original cast recording is available on EMI/Angel Records, and The Color Purple: A Memory Book of the Broadway Musical (Avalon/Carroll & Graf) is available in bookstores now. Ariel Mutual Funds is a proud sponsor of The Color Purple

Tickets for The Color Purple will be available beginning Sunday May 3, 2008 to the public by phone at (713) 558-8887 or outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882; or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, (800 Bagby at Walker, Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm); or on-line at TUTS.com. Discounts are available to groups of 15 or more to most performances by calling 713-558-8888 or emailing groupsales@TUTS..com .

Pictured above:  Kenita R. Miller (Celie) and LaToya London (Nettie) .

Pictured below:
1. The Church Ladies (from left) Lynette DuPree, Virginia Ann Woodruff, Kimberly Ann Harris. 
2. Any Little Thing featuring Felicia P. Fields (Sofia) and Stu James (Harpo).
3. Rufus Bonds, Jr. (Mister) and Adam Wade (Ol Mister).
4. Miss Celie's Pants.
5. Kenita R. Miller (Celie), Felicia P. Fields (Sofia) and Lesly Terrell Donald (Buster).
6. Push Da Button featuring Grasan Kingsberry and Sumayah McRae.

All Photos by Paul Kolnik.