Johnson's 'Breathe' Takes Your Breath Away

By Darlene Donloe

The show, Breathe, currently enjoying its world premiere at the Greenway Court Theater in Los Angeles, is not an easy show to watch. In fact, it is so intense that it can literally take your breath away.

A well-written drama peppered with poetry, Javon Johnson’s play centers on two families, one black, one white.

Life is good – until it isn’t.  Both undergo a life-changing situation that leaves the families broken and confused.

(l-r) John Marshall Jones, Lyn Michele Ross and Kamahl Naiqui

The Middletons, the black family, includes a proud father named Isaac (John Marshall Jones) and his equally proud wife, Loretta (Lyn Michele Ross), the parents of 17-year-old Andre (Kamahl Naiqi).  Andre is a good kid who has a great relationship with his parents.  Andre’s troubles begin the day his beloved, red bike that he bought with his own money – is taken from him. When he confronts the thief – his split second actions land him in prison where he receives a life sentence – devastating his parents.

Casey (Dutch Hofstetter) is the teenage son of the Flemings, John (Walter Cox) and Ellen (Carrie Madsen), a white, middle-income family. Casey also makes a wrong choice by inadvertetlj and is sent to jail.

Carrie Madsen and Dutch Hofstetter

Casey and Andre are cellmates. Their initial meeting is a bit strained, but eventually a friendship develops that eases the boys’ day-to-day restrictions. While locked up the boys discover how they’re as much alike as they are different.

Throughout the show the boys spit seriously tight lyrics like “Waiting to be called” and “Lost track of time” that reveal their desperation, their pain, their sorrow, their reality, their truth, their dreams, their loss, their despair, their beginning and their end.

(l-r) Lyn Michele Ross, John Marshall Jones, Dutch Hofstetter, 

Kamahl Naiqui, Carrie Madsen and Walter Cox

Meanwhile, back at home both sets of parents are trying to figure out what went wrong. Each family is riddled with guilt and shame, while pondering whom to blame. How did they fail as parents? Did they fail as How did they get here? How di they perpetuate the stereotype? How did they become part of the problem instead of the solution? How did their individual sons end up on the wrong side of the law? The questions are never really resolved. They only lead to other questions.

The play is layered with uneasy realism. How does a father deal with what he perceives as a loss of a son?  Why are fathers harder on their sons than they are on their wives? Why are mothers more emotionally available?  Why do teenage boys always feel the need for revenge when they’ve been wronged or disrespected? When is a boy a man? How do teenage boys face the possibility of living most of the rest of their lives behind bars? How do husbands and wives get pass this critical moment in their lives?

Dutch Hofstetter and Walter Cox 

Although the play is lengthy, it’s full and riveting with contemporary themes like revenge, incarceration, machismo, family dynamics, relationships, racism and guns.

Director Levy Lee Simon has assembled an impressive cast armed with talent worthy of the heavy lifting needed for this intoxicating turn.  

Kamahl Naiqui makes you feel every fiber of Andre. Wearing the frustration, fright and confusion of his character, Naiqui is all in, leaving nothing and everything on the stage. It’s a career-changing role.

Kamahl Naiqui and Dutch Hofstetter

There is no weak link in this production. Everyone gives solid performances. John Marshall Jones is effective as an emotionally drained father whose spirit has been lost. He’s a father who no longer knows how to love his only son. Lyn Michele Ross, Dutch Hofstetter, Carrie Madsen and Walter Cox give this heart-wrenching story its air.

The only thing left to do is Breathe. 

Breathe is wonderfully and vividly written by Javon Johnson and effectively and creatively directed by Levy Lee Simon, who makes good use of the stage and the theater.

The show is double cast.   The blue cast includes: John Marshall Jones, Lyn Michele Ross, Kamahl Naiqui, Dutch Hofstetter, Carrie Madsen and Walter Cox.

John Marshall Jones and Kamahl Naiqui

The red cast includes John Marshall Jones, Monifa Days, Brandon Armstrong, Blake Scott Lewis, Wade Barrett and James Giordano. Sammie Wayne IV is an understudy.

This review is for the blue cast.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), Breathe gets an E (excellent).

Breathe, Greenway Theater, 544 N. Fairfax, LA 90036; 8 p.m. Wed.-Fri., through Oct. 23, Tickets: www.greenwaycourt.org or 323 673-0544.

All production photos are by Ty Donaldson.

Crowded 2015 Foreign Language Film Category

LOS ANGELES, CA – Eighty-one countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 88th Academy Awards^®.  Paraguay is a first-time entrant.

The 2015 submissions are:

Afghanistan, "Utopia," Hassan Nazer, director;

Albania, "Bota," Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci, directors;

Algeria, "Twilight of Shadows," Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, director;

Argentina, "The Clan," Pablo Trapero, director;

Australia, "Arrows of the Thunder Dragon," Greg Sneddon, director;

Austria, "Goodnight Mommy," Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, directors;

Bangladesh, "Jalal’s Story," Abu Shahed Emon, director;

Belgium, "The Brand New Testament," Jaco Van Dormael, director;

Bosnia and Herzegovina, "Our Everyday Story," Ines Tanović, director;

Brazil, "The Second Mother," Anna Muylaert, director;

Bulgaria, "The Judgment," Stephan Komandarev, director;

Cambodia, "The Last Reel," Sotho Kulikar, director;

Canada, "Félix and Meira," Maxime Giroux, director;

Chile, "The Club," Pablo Larraín, director;

China, "Go Away Mr. Tumor," Han Yan, director;

Colombia, "Embrace of the Serpent," Ciro Guerra, director;

Costa Rica, "Imprisoned," Esteban Ramírez, director;

Croatia, "The High Sun," Dalibor Matanić, director;

Czech Republic, "Home Care," Slavek Horak, director;

Denmark, "A War," Tobias Lindholm, director;

Dominican Republic, "Sand Dollars," Laura Amelia Guzmán, Israel Cárdenas, directors;

Estonia, "1944," Elmo Nüganen, director;

Ethiopia, "Lamb," Yared Zeleke, director;

Finland, "The Fencer," Klaus Härö, director;

France, "Mustang," Deniz Gamze Ergüven, director;

Georgia, "Moira," Levan Tutberidze, director;

Germany, "Labyrinth of Lies," Giulio Ricciarelli, director;

Greece, "Xenia," Panos H. Koutras, director;

Guatemala, "Ixcanul," Jayro Bustamante, director;

Hong Kong, "To the Fore," Dante Lam, director;

Hungary, "Son of Saul," László Nemes, director;

Iceland, "Rams," Grímur Hákonarson, director;

India, "Court," Chaitanya Tamhane, director;

Iran, "Muhammad: The Messenger of God," Majid Majidi, director;

Iraq, "Memories on Stone," Shawkat Amin Korki, director;

Ireland, "Viva," Paddy Breathnach, director;

Israel, "Baba Joon," Yuval Delshad, director;

Italy, "Don't Be Bad," Claudio Caligari, director;

Ivory Coast, "Run," Philippe Lacôte, director;

Japan, "100 Yen Love," Masaharu Take, director;

Jordan, "Theeb," Naji Abu Nowar, director;

Kazakhstan, "Stranger," Yermek Tursunov, director;

Kosovo, "Babai," Visar Morina, director;

Kyrgyzstan, "Heavenly Nomadic," Mirlan Abdykalykov, director;

Latvia, "Modris," Juris Kursietis, director;

Lebanon, "Void," Naji Bechara, Jad Beyrouthy, Zeina Makki, Tarek Korkomaz, Christelle

Ighniades, Maria Abdel Karim, Salim Haber, directors;

Lithuania, "The Summer of Sangaile," Alanté Kavaïté, director;

Luxembourg, "Baby (A)lone," Donato Rotunno, director;

Macedonia, "Honey Night," Ivo Trajkov, director;

Malaysia, "Men Who Save the World," Liew Seng Tat, director;

Mexico, "600 Miles," Gabriel Ripstein, director;

Montenegro, "You Carry Me," Ivona Juka, director;

Morocco, "Aida," Driss Mrini, director;

Nepal, "Talakjung vs Tulke," Basnet Nischal, director;

Netherlands, "The Paradise Suite," Joost van Ginkel, director;

Norway, "The Wave," Roar Uthaug, director;

Pakistan, "Moor," Jami, director;

Palestine, "The Wanted 18," Amer Shomali, Paul Cowan, directors;

Paraguay, "Cloudy Times," Arami Ullón, director;

Peru, "NN," Héctor Gálvez, director;

Philippines, "Heneral Luna," Jerrold Tarog, director;

Poland, "11 Minutes," Jerzy Skolimowski, director;

Portugal, "Arabian Nights – Volume 2, The Desolate One," Miguel Gomes, director;

Romania, "Aferim!" Radu Jude, director;

Russia, "Sunstroke," Nikita Mikhalkov, director;

Serbia, "Enclave," Goran Radovanović, director;

Singapore, "7 Letters," Royston Tan, Kelvin Tong, Eric Khoo, Jack Neo, Tan Pin Pin,

Boo Junfeng, K. Rajagopal, directors;

Slovakia, "Goat," Ivan Ostrochovský, director;

Slovenia, "The Tree," Sonja Prosenc, director;

South Africa, "The Two of Us," Ernest Nkosi, director;

South Korea, "The Throne," Lee Joon-ik, director;

Spain, "Flowers," Jon Garaño, Jose Mari Goenaga, directors;

Sweden, "A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence," Roy Andersson, director;

Switzerland, "Iraqi Odyssey," Samir, director;

Taiwan, "The Assassin," Hou Hsiao-hsien, director;

Thailand, "How to Win at Checkers (Every Time)," Josh Kim, director;

Turkey, "Sivas," Kaan Müjdeci, director;

United Kingdom, "Under Milk Wood," Kevin Allen, director;

Uruguay, "A Moonless Night," Germán Tejeira, director;

Venezuela, "Gone with the River," Mario Crespo, director;
Vietnam, "Jackpot," Dustin Nguyen, director.

The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, at 5:30 a.m. PT at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

The 88th Oscars^® will be held on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre^® at Hollywood & Highland Center^® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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Jesse Cook Set For 'One World' Concert Tour

The first of three American treks in support of the critically-acclaimed, chart-topping album launches tonight in Tucson, Arizona as part of the Nuevo flamenco guitarist’s 18-city October swing.

Guitar in hand, world music artist Jesse Cook stands at the base of an ancient denuded tree in a stark black-and-white photo on the cover of his “One World” album, which received its official U.S. release on October 2 from Entertainment One Music. When his ninth album was issued internationally last April, the critically-hailed disc that he wrote and produced debuted at No. 1 in the Canadian’s homeland on both the world music and jazz charts. On the heels of a successful concert trek through British Columbia last week, Cook and his band of nomads are poised to bring his global musical message of inclusion to American audiences with the launch of an 18-city U.S. journey that opens Wednesday evening at the Fox Tucson Theatre in Tucson, Arizona.     

Ticket sales for the October dates, the first of three U.S. tours on the “One World” itinerary,  have been robust, thanks in part to repeated airings of the Juno Award winner and 11-time nominee’s latest PBS special, “Jesse Cook: Live at the Bathurst Theatre.” Other drivers include national airplay for the quixotic summer radio single, “Shake,” an infectious guitar hand-clapper, and the newly released “Taxi Brazil,” a seductive expedition of melody and rhythm demonstrative of the ethos consistently present on Cook’s intercontinental recordings. Recently he released a video for the album’s “Once,” a poignant meditation lensed in the bucolic French countryside where the artist used to summer with his family while coming of age (http://bit.ly/1Lx0bNZ).    

Led by virtuosic guitar finger-play, the cerebral Paris-born, Toronto-raised Cook’s cross-pollinating recordings integrate flamenco, rumba, gypsy, jazz and classical motifs. During the inception of the eleven compositions that comprise “One World,” he speculated about what sounds would be heard at a modern day Constantinople. That striking and specific image of the intersection of world cultures was the impetus to his imaginative creative process on the set. 

After traveling the globe extensively to follow his muse and enhance authenticity on previous recordings, Cook opted to sonically explore far-reaching lands on “One World” from his home studio while incorporating more modern technology and electronics than ever harnessed on past ventures. His alluring guitar prowess remains the focal point - expressive, poetic, evocative and emotionally stirring. His speed and dexterity astound and impress, seamlessly knitting a variety of styles and influences into a singular, distinctive voice. Buttressed by earthy drums, rustic percussion, somber horns and piercing violin that form the textured layers of instrumentation, Cook’s guitar encounters futuristic electronic sounds and rhythms during his global wanderings that stimulate a sprawling array of fresh reverberations. Along the path, Cook duets with Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel on the aptly-titled “Tommy And Me,” showcasing their remarkable fingerstyle techniques.

The start of the “One World” tour in the United States coincides with the twentieth anniversary of Cook’s solo debut, “Tempest.” After this month’s run concludes, he takes off on an extensive Canadian tour that leads into Christmas. Cook will resume touring Stateside on January 29 in Florence, Oregon with the third and final American “One World” leg kicking off in April.   

Cook’s 2015 “One World” U.S. Fall Tour itinerary is as follows:

October 7            Tucson, Arizona                               The Fox Theatre

October 8            Scottsdale, Arizona                         Scottsdale Center For The Arts

October 9            San Diego, California                      Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay

October 10          Temecula, California                       Thornton Winery

October 11          Avalon, California                            Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival

October 13          Albuquerque, New Mexico            KiMo Theatre

October 15          Dallas, Texas                                      The Kessler Theatre

October 16          Austin, Texas                                     Paramount Theatre

October 17          Houston, Texas                                 Cullen Performance Hall

October 20          Kansas City, Missouri                      Folly Theater

October 22          Skokie, Illinois                                   North Shore Performing Arts Center

October 23          Burnsville, Minnesota                    Ames Center

October 24          Milwaukee, Wisconsin                   South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center

October 25          Columbus, Ohio                               Lincoln Theatre

October 26          Royal Oak, Michigan                       Royal Oak Music Theatre

October 27          Kalamazoo, Michigan                     Kalamazoo State Theatre

October 29          New York, New York                      New York Society For Ethical Culture

October 30          Glenside, Pennsylvania                 Keswick Theatre

For more information, please visit www.JesseCook.com. 

Sy Smith Joins 'Sophisticated Ladies' At Carnegie

Celebrating the centennial year of Billie Holiday’s birth, Sy Smith joins The New York Pops in “Sophisticated Ladies - A Tribute to Iconic Ladies of Jazz” Live at Carnegie Hall on November 13, 2015 at 8pm, conducted by New York Pops Music Director Steven Reineke. The orchestra also celebrates groundbreaking icons of American popular song from Ella Fitzgerald to Sarah Vaughan to Dinah Washington.

This will be the first time Sy will take the iconic Carnegie Hall stage. Sharing the stage with Sy are Broadway’s own Montego Glover and Capathia Jenkins.

 

CARNEGIE HALL PRESENTS The New York Pops “Sophisticated Ladies - A Tribute to Iconic Ladies of Jazz”

Friday, November 13, 2015 | 8 PM 

Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

Steven Reineke, Music Director and Conductor

Sy Smith, Guest Artist

Montego Glover, Guest Artist

Capathia Jenkins, Guest Artist

 

Sy Smith was born in New York City and raised in Washington, DC. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree from Howard University, Sy moved to Los Angeles where she got the attention of her musical contemporaries and heroes, earning her coveted tours as a backing vocalist for the likes of Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Meshell Ndegeocello and many more. During those years, Sy continued to work with musical director Rickey Minor as a supporting vocalist on “American Idol” and later joining his band at “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

 

As an indie-soul recording artist, Sy has released four albums to critical acclaim, pioneering the nu-soul scene in LA and taking her distinctive sound all over the world. As an actress, she’s starred in numerous TV, film, and stage productions, including a recurring role on FOX’s “Ally McBeal,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “American Dad” and received two nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical/Comedy from the NAACP Theatre Awards for her roles in “If You Don’t Believe” and “Body Language.” As a songwriter, Sy garnered an Emmy nod for Best Original Music/Lyrics for her original song “Welcome Back (All My Soulmates)” for the HBO film “Dancing In September.”

 

Sy currently tours with jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, dazzling audiences with her multi-octave range, unique style of improvisation and soulful interpretations of jazz standards, was a featured guest on the Grammy-nominated DVD “Chris Botti In Boston.” After her Carnegie Hall debut, Sy takes the road.

 

Sy Smith with Chris Botti Fall  2015 and Winter 2016 Tour Dates

December 06 - Boston, MA (The Wilbur Theatre)

December 07 - Boston, MA (The Wilbur Theatre)

December 08 - Boston, MA (The Wilbur Theatre)

December 11 - Cranston, RI (Park Theatre)

December 12 - Peekskill, NY (Paramount Theater)

December 14 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 15 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 16 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 17 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 18 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 19 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 20 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 21 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 22 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 23 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 24 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 25 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 26 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 27 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 28 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 29 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 30 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

December 31 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

January 1 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

January 2 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

January 3 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

January 4 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

January 5 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

January 6 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

January 7 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

January 8 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

January 9 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

January 10 - New York, NY (Blue Note)

January 19 - San Francisco, CA (SF Jazz Center, Miner Auditorium)

January 20 - San Francisco, CA (SF Jazz Center, Miner Auditorium)

January 21 - San Francisco, CA (SF Jazz Center, Miner Auditorium)

January 22 - San Francisco, CA (SF Jazz Center, Miner Auditorium)

January 23 - San Francisco, CA (SF Jazz Center, Miner Auditorium)

January 24 - San Francisco, CA (SF Jazz Center, Miner Auditorium)

 

Cast Set For 'The Color Purple' In New York

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

 

Join Previously Announced Stars

JENNIFER HUDSON, CYNTHIA ERIVO, DANIELLE BROOKS,

ISAIAH JOHNSON, JOAQUINA KALUKANGO and KYLE SCATLIFFE

 

 

DIRECTED AND DESIGNED BY

TONY AWARD-WINNER JOHN DOYLE

 

 

Previews begin November 10, 2015

Official opening December 10, 2015

 

At Broadway’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre

 

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

 

October 6, 2015 – Producers Scott Sanders Productions, Roy Furman, Oprah Winfrey, David Babani, and Tom Siracusa are proud to announce complete casting for this fall’s highly anticipated production of THE COLOR PURPLE, directed by Tony Award winner John Doyle.

 

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 join previously announced principals JENNIFER HUDSON, CYNTHIA ERIVO, DANIELLE BROOKS, ISAIAH JOHNSON, JOAQUINA KALUKANGO, and KYLE SCATLIFFE in this acclaimed staging from London’s Menier Chocolate Factory. 

 

THE COLOR PURPLE will begin preview performances on Tuesday, November 10 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th street) and will officially open on Thursday, December 10. 

 

THE COLOR PURPLE has scenic design by John Doyle, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting design by Jane Cox, sound design by Gregory Clarke, and hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe.   THE COLOR PURPLE will feature music supervision by Catherine Jayes and Music Direction by Jason Michael Webb.  Casting by Telsey + Company/Justin Huff, CSA. 

 

THE COLOR PURPLE is produced 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, Jam Theatricals, Adam S. Gordon, Independent Presenters Network.

 

Tickets for THE COLOR PURPLE, which start at $75, are currently on sale through Telecharge.com.  

 

CYNTHIA ERIVO is appearing with the support of Actors’ Equity Association. The Producers gratefully acknowledge Actors’ Equity Association for its assistance of this production.

 

ABOUT THE ENSEMBLE

 

PHOENIX BEST is a recent graduate of DeSales University and is making his Broadway debut with this production. Regional credits include Les Miserables, Oklahoma!, Henry V, and Two Gentleman of Verona.

 

DWAYNE CLARK has appeared on Broadway in Spiderman (Ensemble), In the Heights(u/s Benny), Cry Baby (Dupree), Tarzan (Terk), Urinetown (u/s Bobby Strong), Smokey Joe’s Café (Adrian). National tours include Rent, Smokey Joe’s Café. Regional: Tick, Tick, Boom, Ain’t Misbehavin’. New York City Opera: Porgy and Bess (Sportin Life). 

 

LAWRENCE CLAYTON most recently starred as Joe Boyd in Damn Yankees at the Ordway Theater in St. Paul, MN.  Broadway appearances include Bells Are Ringing, It Ain’t Nothin but the Blues, The Civil War, Once upon a Mattress, and Dreamgirls.  Off Broadway includes Crowns (Second Stage), Saturn Returns and Romance in Hard Times (Public), and Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (The Theater at MSG).  Regional credits include productions of Big River, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Boys from Syracuse, Betsy Brown, Sophisticated Ladies and Avenue X. He has appeared as the Tenor in Too Hot to Handel with the Baltimore and Colorado Symphonies and has also starred as Montel/Jesus in the New York Premiere of Jerry Springer the Opera at Carnegie Hall (also at Sydney Opera House). TV credits include “Homeland,” “The Good Wife,” “The Big C,” “All My Children,”” Another World,” “As the World Turns,” “One Life to Live,” “Deadline,” and “Law and Order: CSI,” among others. 

 

PATRICE COVINGTON is making her Broadway debut. National tours include Motown The Musical, The Book of Mormon, Dreamgirls (Effie), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Armelia). She has numerous national voice over credits and released a music video for her single, “Life Feels Good Right Now.” 

 

ADRIANNA HICKS is making her Broadway debut. International credits include Sister Act(u/s Deloris), Natürlich Blond das Musical (u/s Pilar), Dirty Dancing das Musical(Ensemble). Regional: Sarah (Ragtime). Concert: backup for Michael Bublé (Call Me Irresponsible Tour). 

 

BRE JACKSON has appeared on Broadway in The Book of Mormon (Ensemble/Swing) and on the First National Tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Diva). Bre received her BFA from the University of Michigan. 

 

GRASAN KINGSBERRY. This is Grasan’s 10th Broadway show and was a member of the original cast of The Color Purple in 2005.  Other Broadway Original Casts: Motown, Nice Work…, Leap of Faith, On A Clear Day…, Catch Me…, Finian’s Rainbow, Dirty Rotten…, Aida. Regional: One Night In Miami (Sam Cooke/Center Stage), Dreamgirls (Curtis/North Shore and National Tour). TV/Film: “Royal Pains,” “Smash,” “All My Children,” I Am Legend. He is a graduate of Juilliard.  

 

KEVYN MORROW’s Broadway credits include The Scarlet Pimpernel, Dream, Smokey Joe's Café, Dreamgirls (1987), A Chorus Line (1990). London: 125th Street, Ragtime(Olivier, Best Actor nom.). Off-Broadway: Boys in the Band, Blue. Regional: Whipping Man, Gem of the Ocean, Stormy Weather, Race, Radio Golf, Les Miserables (Javert), Five Guys…, Tambourines to Glory (Helen Hayes Best Actor nom).  Film: Fair Market Value, The Trade, Stayin’ Alive. Television: Kennedy Center Honors (featured), "Half-Share” (series regular), “Elementary,” ”Person of Interest,” ”Ed,” “Coach,” “Hostages,” ”The Good Wife,” and “Murphy Brown.” 

 

KEN ROBINSON’s Broadway credits include Memphis and Baby It’s You! Regional work includes Choir Boy (Marin Theatre Co), The Colored Museum (Huntington Theatre), The Piano Lesson (Seattle Rep and Syracuse Stage), My Fair Lady (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Ain't Misbehavin' (Cleveland PlayHouse). TV: "Smash." Ken received his MFA from the Yale School of Drama and his BA from Morehouse College. 

 

ANTOINE L. SMITH. Broadway: Memphis. National Tours: First National Tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (Lord Pinkleton); Cats (Old Deuteronomy, Gus, Growltiger). Regional: Les Miserables (Javert), Big River (Jim), Ragtime (Booker T. Washington), Rent (Tom Collins). 

 

CARLA R. STEWART is making her Broadway debut. Originally from Chicago, Carla is an AMDA New York graduate.  Favorite credits include the First National Tour of Ghost the Musical (Oda Mae Brown). Regional: The Wiz (Dorothy), Rent (Joanne), Ain't Misbehavin’(Nell). 

 

AKRON WATSON has appeared off-Broadway in The Fortress of Solitude (Public Theater). Regional: Dreamgirls (North Shore Music Theater); The Fortress of Solitude, Stagger Lee (Dallas Theater Center); Smokey Joe’s Café (Water Tower Theatre); Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (Theatre Three); The Shipment (Undermain Theatre). Film/TV: "Friday Night Lights," "Chase," Seasons of Gray, Spilt Milk.  

 

REMA WEBB recently appeared in You’re Standing In My Way: A New Song Cycle by William Finn and Deborah Abramson at Barrington Stage Company. She also appeared as the homeless woman in A New Brain at Encores! Off-Center.  Ms. Webb was featured in the Broadway revival of Violet and performed on the 2014 Tony Awards. Other Broadway credits include The Lion King,  The Book of Mormon, and Ragtime. Favorite regional credits include The Colored Museum at the Huntington Theatre Company (Elliot Norton Award for Best Ensemble) and Being Alive (Westport Country Playhouse and Philadelphia Theatre Company). Last fall, she made her 54 Below solo concert debut with Children Will Listen. She is the Founder/Executive Director of the On Broadway Performing Arts Training Program.

 

ABOUT THE COLOR PURPLE

 

John Doyle’s critically acclaimed production opened in summer 2013 in London at the Menier Chocolate Factory.  

 

Charles Spencer of The Telegraph said THE COLOR PURPLE “BLOWS THE ROOF OFF THE THEATRE,” and Libby Purvess of The Times says, “IT ROCKS THE HOUSE.  NEVER WAS THERE SUCH STAMPING, CHEERING, HOOTING, ROARING AND WHISTLING.”  And Mark Shenton of The Stage called the production “A REVELATION.  SOMETHING TRULY EXTRAORDINARY.”

 

Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel and the Warner Bros. / Amblin Entertainment motion picture, THE COLOR PURPLE is 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.  

 

THE COLOR PURPLE is an unforgettable story of enduring love and triumph over adversity.  With a fresh, joyous score of jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, this stirring family chronicle follows the inspirational Celie, as she journeys from childhood through joy and despair, anguish and hope to discover the power of love and life. 

 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

 

THE COLOR PURPLE will be performed on the following schedule at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th street): 

 

Beginning Tuesday, November 10: Tuesday – Saturday at 8pm, Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm (no Wednesday matinee on November 11 and 18).  

 

Beginning Tuesday, December 15: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm, Sunday at 2pm and 7:30pm.

 

For complete schedule, including holiday weeks, please visit www.colorpurple.com.