The Color Purple
Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
Previews Began: November 10, 2015
Opening Night: December 10, 2015
Closing Night: January 8, 2017
Music: Stephen Bray
Brenda Russell
Allee Willis
Lyrics: Stephen Bray
Brenda Russell
Allee Willis
Book: Marsha Norman
In the early 1900s in rural Georgia, Celie is a teenager giving birth for the second time. When her father offers her to a local farmer in need of a woman to raise his children, she is torn from her beloved younger sister and begins to learn about the world outside her family’s humble residence. As years pass by, Celie becomes resigned to her unfortunate lot in life, but when newcomers Sofia and Shug enter and bring their fresh perspective, she begins to understand that there must be more to life.
Musical Numbers
Act One
Overture……………………………………………Orchestra
Huckleberry Pie/ Mysterious
Ways………………………..Young Celie, Young Nettie,
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, Orchestra
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
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