Overview
Synopsis
Based on Alice Walker’s 1982 novel of the same name, The Color Purple spans 35 years in the life of Celie, a teenage African-American girl living in Georgia who is given by her abusive stepfather to an even more abusive husband. Though Celie spends most of her days as a servant in her own household, she, cut off by her husband from those she loves, tries to remain hopeful that she will ultimately be reunited with her sister Nettie and her children by way of her stepfather, Adam and Olivia. Over the years, Celie, increasingly jaded by her lot, finds ways to cope with life--a potential lover in the fabulous Shug Avery, a friend in her stepson’s wife Sofia, a love of making stretchable pants that turns into a booming business. Though her string of unfortunate events, though, Celie learns that the most important thing is that she is a survivor, and that no matter what happens to her, she is still here.
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Context
The Color Purple began its life as a novel written by American author Alice Walker in 1982, a book that is now #17 on the American Library Association’s list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2000–2009 due to explicit and violent content. The novel, three years later, was adapted into a film directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and 5 Golden Globes; Goldberg won its sole award: the
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Act One
The curtain opens on a Sunday in rural Georgia, 1909. Two young African-American sisters, Celie and Nettie, start to play a game and sing their special song (“Huckleberry Pie”). Meanwhile, the residents of the town are in church singing and enjoying their Sunday mass. Celie (who is 14 years old and pregnant by her stepfather), Nettie, and their stepfather, Pa, are the last ones to enter. While the churchgoers pray, they gossip about who they believe could be the father of Celie’s
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Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in The Color Purple.
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Songs
Act One
- Huckleberry Pie - Young Celie, Young Nettie
- Mysterious Ways - Celie, Nettie, Ensemble
- Somebody Gonna Love You - Celie
- Our Prayer - Nettie, Celie, Mister, Doris, Darlene, Jarene, Pa
- That Fine Mister - Doris, Darlene, Jarene
- Big Dog - Mister, Celie, Young Harpo, Mister’s Daughters, Male Ensemble
- Lily of the Field - Celie, Nettie, Mister
- Dear God (Sofia) - Celie
- A Tree Named Sofia - Doris, Darlene, Jarene
- Hell No! - Sofia, Celie, Sofia’s Sisters
- *Brown Betty - Harpo, Squeak, Celie, Male Ensemble
- Shug Avery Comin’ to Town - Mister, Celie, Ensemble
- All We’ve Got to Say - Doris, Darlene, Jarene
- Dear God (Shug) - Celie, Shug
- Too Beautiful for Words - Shug
- *Push Da Button - Shug, Harpo, Ensemble
- Uh-Oh! - Sofia, Squeak, Celie, Buster, Female Ensemble
- What About Love? - Celie, Shug
- Act I Finale - Shug, Celie, Nettie
Act Two
- African Homeland - Nettie, Celie, Young Adam, Young Olivia, Ensemble
- The Color Purple - Shug, Celie
- Church Ladies’ Easter - Doris, Darlene, Jarene
- I Curse You Mister - Celie, Mister
- Mister’s Song (Celie’s Curse) - Mister
- Miss Celie’s Pants - Celie, Shug, Sofia, Female Ensemble
- Any Little Thing - Harpo, Sofia
- What About Love? (Reprise) - Celie, Shug
- I’m Here - Celie
- The Color Purple (Reprise) - Celie, Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Key Terms
A musical genre characterized by syncopation and improvisation, frequently integrated into musical theatre for style and rhythm.
A genre of popular music that has influenced musical theatre, especially in shows highlighting African-American culture.
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