LOS ANGELES, CA (October 4, 2018) – Greenway Arts Alliance (Whitney Weston and Pierson Blaetz, Co-Founders and Co-Artistic Directors) announced the cast and creative team for THE COLOR PURPLE, which will play at the Greenway Court Theatre (544 N. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles). Performances run from November 9 through December 9 with the official press opening on Saturday, November 10. The Tony Award-winning musical features a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray. Directing and choreographing the cast of 15 is NAACP Theater Award-winner Jeffrey Polk (Smokey Joe’s Café).
THE COLOR PURPLE is an inspiring family saga that tells the unforgettable story of a woman who, through love, finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world. This musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (and the popular 1985 Steven Spielberg film) spotlights Celie, a downtrodden young woman whose personal awakening over the course of 40 years forms the arc of this epic story. With a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music, and blues, THE COLOR PURPLE is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love and a celebration of life.
The cast of THE COLOR PURPLE features:
Gabrielle Jackson as Celie
Sierra Repertory Theater’s Beehive: The 60’s Musical as Aretha Franklin
3-D Theatrical’s The Full Monty as Estelle Genovese
Moonlight Stage Production’s Aida as Nehebka
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| April Nixon |
April Nixon as Shug
Olivier Award-nominee for Best Supporting Actress in
Damn Yankees as Lola (opposite Jerry Lewis)
Broadway: Smokey Joe’s Café, Tommy, and Cats
National Tour of 9 to 5
Aaron Braxton as Mister
International Gala Star and NAACP Theater Award for
Best Solo Show – Did You Do Your Homework?
New Vic’s Theatre’s Jazz adaptation of Porgy and Bess as Robbins
Jeremy Whatley as Harpo
Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center’s Sister Act and Ragtime
Dominique Kent as Sofia
Cupcake Theater’s Dreamgirls as Effie White
3D Theatricals’ Once On This Island
Elizabeth Adabale as Nettie
Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center’s Sister Act
Cupcake Theater’s Urinetown and Hairspray
Rachel Sarah Mount as Squeak
ABC’s The Goldberg’s
Childish Gambino’s “Awaken, My Love!”
Carol Dennis as Soloist/Church Lady
Originated the role of Soloist/Church Lady (reprised in this production) on Broadway in The Color Purple
Broadway: Big River and The Wiz
Broadway: Big River and The Wiz
Lynette DuPree as Church Lady
Broadway: Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in da Funk
National Tours of The Color Purple and Dreamgirls
Mariah Strickland as Church Lady
Dorothy in Slidell Little Theatre’s The Wiz
La Mirada Theatre’s The Magic of Christmas
Earnest Carter as Ensemble
HBO’s Arli$$
Otis Easter as Ensemble
Ebony Repertory Theatre’s The Gospel at Colonus –
Ovation Award for Best Ensemble
Justyn Malik as Ensemble
Cupcake Theater’s Dreamgirls
Charles McCoy as Ensemble
Sebastian in Chance Theatre’s The Little Mermaid
Jacquelin Schofield as Ensemble
Kentwood Players’ Doubt –
NAACP Award-nominee for Best Supporting Female
“THE COLOR PURPLE is the story of redemption and empowerment and particularly relevant in today's political climate,” said Whitney Weston, Greenway Arts Alliance Co-Founder, and Co-Artistic Director. “We feel fortunate that Los Angeles theatre veteran, Jeffrey Polk, is on board to bring this powerful story to life on our stage,” added Pierson Blaetz, Greenway Arts Alliance Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director.
"I’m so proud of this stellar cast that we put together -- all local and within our community – including the immensely talented Carol Dennis, Lynette DuPree, April Nixon, and Aaron Braxton," said Jeffrey Polk, director, and choreographer of THE COLOR PURPLE. "I'm also thrilled to be collaborating with internationally renowned composer, pianist, conductor, orchestrator and musical director Patrick Gandy who has worked with such great artists as Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and Dianne Reeves. That is just the beginning of the greatness and the talent of this cast and this production team." Polk added, "Together we will tell the story of THE COLOR PURPLE through Alice Walker's novel as we give it the music and life to move the audience. The intimate theater will let you feel that you are right there, so you can see the actors eyes and experience their journey with them."
In addition to director/choreographer Jeffrey Polk, THE COLOR PURPLE creative team includes: music director Patrick Gandy, set designer Christopher Murillo; costume designer Dana Rebecca Woods; lighting designer Azra King-Abadi, and sound designer Julie Ferrin.
THE COLOR PURPLE premiered at the Alliance Theatre Company in Atlanta, Georgia and opened on Broadway on November 1, 2005. It was nominated for eleven 2006 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Original Score. The London off-West End production opened on Broadway in 2015, winning the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.
THE COLOR PURPLE will play at Greenway Court Theatre, 544 North Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036. The production will play from November 9 through December 9, 2018; with the official press opening on Saturday, November 10 at 8:00 p.m. Preview performance is on Friday, November 9 at 8:00 p.m. Preview prices for general admission are $25 and Student/Senior prices are $10. The regular performance schedule is Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 4:00 p.m. Regular performance ticket prices for general admission are $40 and Student/Senior prices are $20. THE COLOR PURPLE is also available through Greenway Arts Alliance 2018|2019 Season Subscription packages starting at $50. Subscription and single tickets are available online at GreenwayCourtTheatre.org/THECOLORPURPLE. For more information call 323-673-0544 or visit GreenwayCourtTheatre.org. Free parking is available in the lot on Fairfax and Clinton, directly adjacent to the theatre. The parking lot is shared with other events, please allow for ample time to park.
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GREENWAY ARTS ALLIANCE (GAA) – Since its 1997 inception, the Greenway Arts Alliance has united communities through the arts, education and social enterprise. Through Greenway Court Theatre’s professional theatre productions, Greenway Institute for the Arts’ education programs and the Melrose Trading Post’s weekly art-based open market, Greenway Arts Alliance builds a vibrant artistic community in the heart of Los Angeles. GAA has modeled an innovative partnership with the Fairfax High School campus to leverage community resources to connect the profession artistic and public education communities around a commitment to learning and creation in the arts. Greenway Arts Alliance was Co-Founded by artists-activists Whitney Weston and Pierson Blaetz, both of whom serve as Co-Artistic Directors for the organization.
GREENWAY COURT THEATRE – Greenway Court was initially built by Fairfax High School students in 1939 as a class project and used as a Social Hall by both students and faculty. It sat virtually unused for many years until it was finally renovated into a professional 99-seat theatre by Greenway Arts Alliance in 2000, to benefit both the school and the surrounding community.
Greenway Court Theatre has a rich history of presenting and producing diverse bodies of work. Greenway has opened its door to many main-stage productions, weekly open mic poetry, festivals and world premieres that have moved to larger venues and toured across the country.
Tiffany Moon serves as Greenway Court Theatre’s Producing Director.
GREENWAY INSTITUTE FOR THE ARTS – An arts education program in theatre, dance and film for students at the Fairfax High School, a Title 1 high school in the Los Angeles Unified School district. Greenway Institute for the Arts promotes art education through both in-class and after-school programs in theatre, dance, and film. Through the generosity of our funders, classes and workshops are provided free of charge to Fairfax High School students. Presented with opportunities to engage with professional artists, young people are able to discover their individual voices and passions that can lead to careers in the arts.
MELROSE TRADING POST – A pioneering arts-based marketplace held every Sunday on the Fairfax High School campus. Every Sunday, the Melrose Trading Post offers a constantly evolving experience, with a curated selection of handcrafted artisan goods, eclectic art and craft, vintage fashion, antique furniture and one-of-a-kind treasures.
Through admission and vendor fees, the Melrose Trading Post has grown to become the most successful ongoing social enterprise program in the history of Los Angeles Unified School District, awarding grants to Fairfax High School organizations for sports equipment, beautification projects, teacher programs, theatre productions, and more - totaling well over seven million dollars since the Melrose Trading Post’s humble beginnings in 1997. Through Greenway Arts Alliance, the Melrose Trading Post provides formal job and life skills training to large numbers of paid and volunteer students from Fairfax High School – the first real-world job experience for many. The market also serves as an incubator to promote small community businesses and budding entrepreneurs, many of them professional artists, by providing affordable retail opportunities in a prime, high-traffic location.
Additionally, the popular weekly market has always featured local musicians. In 2014, the market expanded to include even more opportunities for local artists through an outdoor, year-long series of music, dance, theater and spoken word events via the MTP Main Stage.
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