Stage Sounds: The Color Purple

I got to see The Color Purple back in 2018 when the revival production was on its national tour. I knew nothing about the story other than Whoopi Goldberg was in the movie and she was amazing, and by the end of the show I had cheered, clapped, cried, and gasped my way through Celie's life and was so glad that I had. This show comes out of the gate absolutely swinging and does not let up for one second with powerful vocals, beautiful staging, and so much talent.

The Color Purple is a musical with a book by Marsha Norman and music & lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray. Inspired by the 1982 Alice Walker novel of the same name (and its aforementioned 1985 film adaptation starring Whoopi Goldberg & Danny Glover), the show opened in 2005 at the Broadway Theater (located on Broadway proper), where it remained in residence until 2008 after over 900 performances. The show returned to Broadway in 2015 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (located on W 45th Street), where it remained in residence until 2017 after over 400 performances. The original Broadway run was nominated for eleven Tony Awards in 2006 and Grammy Award in 2007, winning the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical (LaChanze). Meanwhile, the revival was nominated for four Tonys in 2016, winning two (Best Revival of a Musical; Best Actress in a Musical - Cynthia Erivo). The revival production also won Best Musical Theater Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards. Apart from Broadway, the show has enjoyed success in Chicago in 2007, in the UK Off West End in 2013, and has gone on national tour four times (2007, 2010, 2012, and 2017).

Like the previous Stage Sounds posts, I will focus on one song for each main cast member. I will be discussing the original and revival cast recordings, both of which are currently available on Apple Music. There will be honorable mentions again because all of the music in this show is just so good and it's always hard to pick just one. Therefore, here we go! Warning: potential spoilers ahead.

Celie (Mezzo-Soprano/Alto)

Spotlight Song: Somebody Gonna Love You

Honorable Mentions: Huckleberry Pie; Lily of the Field; Dear God - Sofia; Dear God - Shug; What About Love?; African Homeland; The Color Purple; Miss Celie's Pants; I'm Here

Original Broadway Cast (2005): LaChanze

Broadway Revival Cast (2015): Cynthia Erivo

Celie's story is so heartbreaking and yet so hopeful all at the same time. Watching her grow from that scared, sad little girl in the beginning to a strong, confident, secure woman by the end is so satisfying - if Celie can overcame all of the total, utter crap she went through her whole life, then anyone can. She has some really amazing moments in the show musically, but my personal favorite is Act 1's Somebody Gonna Love You as she sings to her newborn baby before her father takes it away. While LaChanze did an incredible job originating the role, I've become convinced anything and everything Cynthia Erivo touches turns to solid gold and I am just completely in love with her voice. Both of their takes on this song are stunning, are super likely to get your eyes feeling a little misty, and clearly show why both women took home their respective Tony Awards for this show.

Got nothin' to give you but a prayer/God's gonna see you through/To part with you more than I can bear/But somebody gonna love you

Shug Avery (Alto)

Spotlight Song: Too Beautiful For Words

Honorable Mentions: Push Da Button; What About Love?; The Color Purple; Miss Celie's Pants

Original Broadway Cast (2005): Elisabeth Withers

Broadway Revival Cast (2015): Jennifer Hudson

Shug's character is so fabulous but so frustrating at the same time, because if she would just get her damn act together most of her problems would disappear. That's part of what makes her compelling, though, and a large part of why Celie both loves and ends up leaving her. Despite her flamboyant outward appearance, she cares very deeply for those that are important to her, and dang she has arguably some of the best musical moments in the show. I had a really, really difficult time passing up Push Da Button, but I do stand firmly by Act 1's Too Beautiful For Words as Shug offers some words of encouragement to Celie. Again, OG Shug Elisabeth Withers is amazing, but Jennifer Hudson just blows this performance away with her stunning voice and the amount of emotion she pours into this piece.

I've always been the kind of gal that had a lot to say/I’ve says the things that's on my mind, too dumb to shy away/But you hush my mouth and still me with a song I never heard/I guess that means that you are just too beautiful for words

Sofia (Alto)

Spotlight Song: Hell No!

Honorable Mentions: Uh-Oh!; Miss Celie's Pants; Any Little Thing

Original Broadway Cast (2005): Felicia P. Fields

Broadway Revival Cast (2015): Danielle Brooks

Sofia may be my favorite character in the entire show. Her strength and blatant refusal to take crap from anyone anywhere at anytime is empowering, and it's also what makes her abuse at the hands of the mayor and his wife so utterly heart-shattering. She's funny, she's larger than life, and while all of her songs are amazing I had to choose Act 1's Hell No as my favorite while she and her sisters learn about Celie's abuse and try to encourage her to stand up for herself. Felicia P. Fields and Danielle Brooks both bring so much power to this role, and both of them have incredible, dream alto belting moments in this song that are truly incredible to hear.

I feel sorry for you, to tell you the truth/You remind me of my momma, under yo husband’s thumb, naw, you under yo husband’s foot/What he say go, why you so scared, I’ll never know/But if a man raise his hand, hell no/Hell no/Girl child ain’t safe in a family of mens/Sick and tired how a woman still live like a slave/Oh, you better learn how to fight back while you still alive/You show them, girl, and beat back that jive/‘Cause when a man just don’t give a damn, hell no/Hell no

Mister (Baritone/Bass)

Spotlight Song: Celie's Curse

Honorable Mentions: Big Dog; Shug Avery Comin' to Town; I Curse You Mister

Original Broadway Cast (2005): Kingsley Leggs

Broadway Revival Cast (2015): Isaiah Johnson

Putting it out there straight, Mister's a straight up asshole. He's horrible to Celie, he's awful to Harpo and his other children, and he only cares about Shug because of what she can offer him sexually. While it in absolutely no way excuses his actions and behavior, you get a glimpse of why he is the way that he is in my highlights song for him, Act 2's Celie's Curse (sometimes known as Mister's Song). Mister's one of those people who uses their experiences as an excuse for crappy behavior and abuse, never taking ownership of his choices and choosing instead to blame everyone else for his circumstances. Both of these fine gentlemen, Kingsley Leggs and Isaiah Johnson, do an amazing job bringing this man to life, and each of them does it in a different way. Leggs' version is much more angry and harsh and unforgiving, while Johnson's (my favorite) is a bit more "whoa as me" but you can see by the end of the song someone who may be capable of change further down the road.

Nobody to put up with, nobody to mess with me/Nobody to push me around, nobody to tell me what to do/Nobody to expect somethin' of me, nobody to tell me who I am and who I ain’t/Nobody, I got plenty to blame/My daddy beat me for my own good, he say/My first wife got kilt when she run away/My kids is all fools, my crops is all dead/Only woman I love won't lie in my bed/A black man's life can't get any worse/‘Less he wastin' away under Miss Celie's curse

Harpo (Tenor)

Spotlight Song: Brown Betty

Honorable Mentions: Push Da Button; Any Little Thing to Town

Original Broadway Cast (2005): Brandon Victor Dixon

Broadway Revival Cast (2015): Kyle Scatliffe

Harpo, Mister's son, is not the brightest bulb in the box, but he's not a bad guy and watching him grow up throughout the show is great. He truly loves Sofia, which is part of why he makes some immature and truly foolish decisions, and he grows to care for and appreciate Celie as well. His song in Act 1, Brown Betty, is a really fun number as he and his friends attempt to "get over" Sofia after she leaves (even though it's 100% Harpo's fault that she left). Kyle Scatliffe does a phenomenal job, but I just love Brandon Victor Dixon's vocals on the original recording of this song. It's catchy, it's upbeat, and it's a moment of fun in a part of the story you wouldn't expect.

Brown-legged woman put a spell on me/Oh, Brown Betty/She chop me down like an ol' oak tree/Don't matter if she big-legged, brown-eyed/Big-eyed, brown-legged/Whatever she done, that girl sho’ was fine

Nettie (Alto)

Spotlight Song: African Homeland

Honorable Mentions: Huckleberry Pie; Lily of the Field

Original Broadway Cast (2005): Renée Elise Goldsberry

Broadway Revival Cast (2015): Joaquina Kalukango

Nettie both doesn't get a lot of stage time, but she's a huge influence and presence throughout the story as she's the person Celie cares for most in the world. The Act 2 opener, African Homeland, is her biggest moment in the show as she tells Celie through letters what she's experienced since Mister threw her out of the house. Joaquina Kalukango has a fabulous voice, but as we all know by now I am obsessed with Renée Elise Goldsberry and love that she originated this role. This song is long for sure, but it's got some great, different moments in it that perfectly set the second act in motion.

Dear Celie, oh, I love you/Years go by and still you're with me/All we share is one big sky/I pray for your reply/I teach your children ABC's/For a missionary family/These babies sent by God are yours/Adam and Olivia, alive, alive/I vibrated like a bell when I saw the African coast/And I kneeled down and thanked God/Thank God, tank God/For letting us see the land where our mothers and fathers died/African homeland, homeland

If you've never experienced The Color Purple in musical form, I highly recommend listening to these soundtracks because they're just so full of talent in every way. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!