01/13/12

Story by Diane Carroll

'The Color Purple'

Stage version of 'The Color Purple' on tap at Yardley Hall

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – In The Color Purple, Celie is a poor, uneducated 14-year-old girl growing up in rural Georgia. Her father, Alphonso, abuses her and warns her to tell no one.

Celie feels trapped and alone. Then she begins writing letters to God.

Alice Walker's inspiring family saga comes to life on stage at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, in the Carlsen Center's Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College. Dr. Paul Laird, professor of musicology at the School of Music, University of Kansas, will provide a pre-performance talk at 7 p.m. in Polsky Theatre.

Tickets, which are $50 and $40, are available through the college box office at 913-469-4445 or at jccc.edu/TheSeries.

The Color Purple, which is on a national tour, is based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Walker and the moving film by Steven Spielberg. It is the unforgettable story of Celie, who gains the strength to overcome adversity and find her voice in the world. The story spans four decades and deals with infanticide, domestic violence, racial oppression and spiritual crisis.

With a joyous, Grammy-nominated score featuring gospel, jazz, pop and the blues, The Color Purple also is about hope and the healing power of love.

The musical is the culmination of more than eight years of work and planning by producer Scott Sanders.

The production, directed by Gary Griffin, was adapted for stage by Pulitzer Prize and Tony award winner Marsha Norman. The music and lyrics are by Grammy Award-winning composers/lyricists Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.  Donald Bryd handled the choreography.

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