From Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning bestselling novel and Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated film, StageArt presents the Australasian premiere of the Tony Award-winning stage musical, The Color Purple at Chapel off Chapel from 13 October 2016.
Spanning four decades and three continents, The Color Purple chronicles the feminist evolution of ‘Celie’ a battered and downtrodden African-American woman who endures rape, incest, domestic violence and racial abuse her entire life. This awe inspiring saga tells her unforgettable story of overcoming adversity in a heartening tale that is a testament to the healing power of love and faith.
Directed by Robbie Carmellotti (Hair, Saturday Night Fever), The Color Purple will star an all-Australian cast with Melbourne’s own Jayme-Lee Hanekom (Disney’s The Lion King, In The Heights) headlining in the role of Celie. She will be joined by Thando Sikwila (The Voice, Dreamgirls) as Shug Avery; Anna Francesca Armenia (In The Heights, Dreamgirls) as Nettie; Kendrew A. Heriveaux (Requiem and Messiah New York) as Mister, Iopu Auva’a (Hair, Dreamgirls) as Harpo and Vanessa Menjivar (Dreamgirls) as Sofia, the role that propelled Oprah Winfrey to stardom.
Joining them will be Zenya Carmellotti, Noelani Petero, Anisha Senaratne, Sasha Hennequin, Joti Gore, Augestine Tchantcho, Guillaume Gentil, Gideon Wilonja, and Tsungirai Wachenuka. Rounding out the cast will be off-stage vocalists, Gina Mets, Benjamin Samuel, Aaron Taylor and Casey Withoos.
With a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music and blues, The Color Purple was nominated for eleven Tony Awards, including: Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Original Score. The current Broadway production won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.
“The Color Purple changed my life! I have always wanted as many people as possible to experience this story.” – Oprah Winfrey
The Color Purple
Chapel off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
Season: 13 October – 6 November 2016
Bookings: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au
For more information, visit: www.stageart.com.au for details.
Image: Jayme-Lee Hanekom to feature in The Color Purple – photo by Belinda Strodder Photography