Broadway SIX star Brittney Mack will lead the company of a new staging of The Color Purple at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, starring as Celie. Performances will run June 21–July 27, with opening night set for June 30. Lili-Anne Brown is directing the musical, adapted from Alice Walker's Pulitzer-winning novel.
The cast will also feature Aeriel Williams as Shug Avery, Evan Tyrone Martin as Mister, Nicole Michelle Haskins as Sofia, Gilbert Domally as Harpo, Shantel Renee Cribbs as Nettie, Daryn Whitney Harrell as Squeak, Jos N. Banks as Grady, Curtis Bannister as Buster, Sean Blake as Ol Mister, Sharriese Hamilton as Darlene, Ariya Hawkins as Olivia, Reneisha Jenkins as Jarene, Eric Lewis as Bobby, Michael Earvin Martin as Pa, and Juwon Tyrel Perry as Preacher. Ensemble member Aalon Daeja Smith and swings Marta Bady, Richaun Shamar Stewart, and Shelbi Voss will round out the company. Casting is by Lauren Port.
Goodman's production will be Brown's third time directing the musical, following a 2019 production at Chicago's Drury Lane Theatre and a 2022 bow at the MUNY in St. Louis.
"This show is an absolute celebration of women, how we as women protect and empower one another and ourselves,” says Brown. “It's about a woman's relationship with her sister, her community, her children, her lover, herself and, ultimately, the Divine. The right time for this piece is always ‘right now.’ I’m thrilled to return to it at the Goodman, in the heart of downtown Chicago, for our revival this summer with this truly fabulous cast of top-tier talent."
The Color Purple features a book by Marsha Norman and a score by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray. The musical debuted on Broadway in 2005, earning original star LaChanze a Tony Award for her performance as Celie. A London revival transferred to Broadway in 2015, earning Tonys for Best Revival of a Musical and Leading Actress, for its leading lady Cynthia Erivo.
“Alice Walker’s brilliant and beloved novel is an essential work of art that has, for decades, endured beyond the page, in films and on stage,” says Goodman Artistic Director Susan V. Booth in a statement. “Lili-Anne Brown’s glorious rendering of the musical remains one of the most memorable, highly acclaimed productions of recent years. It’s our joy and privilege to invite her to revisit her creation this summer at The Goodman.”
The creative team will include music director Jermaine Hill, choreographer Breon Arzell, set designer Arnel Sancianco, costume designer Samantha C. Jones, lighting designer Heather Gilbert, co-sound designers Stephanie Farina and Sarah Ramos, co-projection designers Mike Commendatore and Rasean Davonté Johnson, and intimacy and violence coordinator Gregory Geffrard. Nikki Blue will be production stage manager, with Beth Koehler and Imani Ross as stage managers.
Visit GoodmanTheatre.org.
