High demand for tickets prompts a six-performance extension for The Color Purple the musical at Goodman Theatre, directed by Lili-Anne Brown with music direction by Jermaine Hill and choreography by Breon Arzell. The musical is based on the Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning novel by Alice Walker with a book by Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. Twenty years after its original Broadway debut, this story of resilience, hope and self-discovery against all odds resonates today, brought to life by Brown’s 21-member company—Brittney Mack (Broadway’s SIX The Musical) as Celie; Aerie Williams (The Color Purple National Tour) as Shug Avery; Evan Tyrone Martin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 at Writers Theater) as Mister; Nicole Michelle Haskins (Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) at The Goodman) as Sofia, Gilbert Domally (Choir Boy at Steppenwolf) as Harpo; Shantel Renee Cribbs (Dreamgirls at Paramount) as Nettie; Daryn Whitney Harrell (Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil at The Goodman) as Squeak; and more, a full cast list appears below. The Color Purple is on stage now, extended through August 3. Extension week performances include July 30 at 2pm, July 31 at 7:30pm, August 1 at 7:30pm, August 2 at 2pm and 7:30pm and August 3 at 2pm. Tickets ($33 - $143; subject to change) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Purple or by phone at 312.443.3800.
Goodman Theatre is grateful for the support of The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust (Lead Sponsor of IDEAA Programming); Shure Incorporated (Technical Sponsor); and Athletico Physical Therapy (Physical Therapy Provider) for this production.
Full Company of The Color Purple The Musical (in alphabetical order)
Directed by Lili-Anne Brown
Based on the Novel by Alice Walker and the Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment Motion Picture
Book by Marsha Norman
Music and Lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray
Jos N. Banks…Grady
Curtis Bannister…Buster
Sean Blake…Ol Mister/Olinkan Chief
Shantel Renee Cribbs…Nettie
Gilbert Domally…Harpo
Lachrisa Grandberry…Doris/Olinkan Wife
Sharriese Hamilton…Darlene/Olinkan Wife
Daryn Whitney Harrell…Squeak
Nicole Michelle Haskins…Sofia
Ariya Hawkins…Olivia
Reneisha Jenkins…Jarene/Olinkan Wife
Eric Lewis…Bobby/Guard
Brittney Mack…Celie
Evan Tyrone Martin…Mister
Michael Earvin Martin…Pa
Juwon Tyrel Perry…Preacher/Adam
Aerie Williams…Shug Avery
Jos N. Banks, Curtis Bannister, Sean Blake, Shantel Renee Cribbs, Lachrisa Grandberry, Sharriese Hamilton, Daryn Whitney Harrell, Ariya Hawkins, Reneisha Jenkins, Eric A. Lewis, Michael Earvin Martin, Juwon Tyrel Perry, Aalon Daeja Smith…Ensemble
Marta Bady, Richaun Samar Stewart, Shelbi Voss…Swing
Creative Team
Music Director…Jermaine Hill
Choreographer…Breon Arzell
Associate Choreographer…Darian Tene
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
Intimacy and Violence...Gregory Geffrard
Assistant Intimacy and Violence…Isabella Grace Scarlett
Assistant Director…Tor Campbell
Line Producer…Malkia Stampley
Casting is by Lauren Port, CSA. Nikki Blue is the Production Stage Manager. Beth Koehler and Imani Ross are the Stage Managers.
ENHANCED AND ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES
Visit goodmantheatre.org/access for more information about The Goodman’s accessibility efforts.
ASL-Interpreted: July 18 at 7:30pm – A professional ASL interpreter signs the action/text as played.
Touch Tour* and Audio-Described: July 12, 12:30pm Touch Tour; 2pm – Action is audibly enhanced via headset.
Spanish-Subtitled: July 12 at 7:30pm – LED sign presents Spanish-translated dialogue in sync with the performance.
Open-Captioned Performance: July 13 at 2pm – LED sign presents dialogue in sync with the performance.
ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE
Chicago’s theater since 1925, Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Loop, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement. Led by Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. Artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and more than 160 Jeff Awards, among other accolades.
The Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Its longtime annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, now in its fifth decade, has created a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production and program partner with national and international companies and Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters.
Using the tools of theatrical practice, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand and empathize with cultures and stories of diverse voices. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of these programs, which are offered for Chicago youth—85% of whom come from underserved communities—schools and life-long learners.
Goodman Theatre was built on the unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi Nations. We recognize that many other Nations consider the area we now call Chicago as their traditional homeland—including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo and Mascouten and remains home to many Native peoples today. The Goodman is proud to have a relationship with Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum. Located in Evanston, the Museum honors the survival and perseverance of Indigenous communities and promotes a greater understanding of Indigenous peoples: gichigamiin-museum.org.
Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation on the new Goodman center in 2000.
Julie Danis is Chair of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Lorrayne Weiss is Women’s Board President and Kelli Garcia is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.