Theatre News

The Color Purple revival Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome cast announced

The iconic musical is revived in a new production directed by Tinuke Craig

Ako Mitchell, Seyi Omooba and Simon-Anthony Rhoden
Ako Mitchell, Seyi Omooba and Simon-Anthony Rhoden
© Left and right: Dan Wooller for WhatsOnStage, centre: Simon Mayhew

Casting has been announced for the brand new revival of Oprah Winfrey's hit Broadway musical The Color Purple, based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

Directed by Tinuke Craig (random/generations), the show will star Seyi Omooba (Hadestown, Little Shop of Horrors) as Celie, alongside Joanna Francis (Dusty) as Shug Avery, Ako Mitchell (Caroline, or Change) as Mister, Simon-Anthony Rhoden (Kinky Boots) as Harpo, Karen Mavundukure (Dreamgirls) as Sofia, recent graduate Danielle Fiamanya as Nettie and Delroy Brown (Dreamgirls) as Pa.

The cast is completed by Geoff Aymer, Owen Chaponda, Perola Congo, KM Drew Boateng, Danielle Kassaraté, Anelisa Lamola, Rosemary Annabella Nkrumah, Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy, Landi Oshinowo and Jo Servi.

The Color Purple originally ran in Atlanta in 2004 before transferring to Broadway in 2005, where it ran for three years. A 2013 Menier Chocolate Factory revival won two Tony Awards when it transferred to New York in 2015. It has music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray and book by Marsha Norman.

This new UK production is the first to be created outside of London, and has set and costume design by Alex Lowde, musical supervision by Alex Parker, orchestrations by Martin Higgins, choreography by Mark Smith, lighting design by Joshua Pharo, sound design by Tom Marshall, hair and make-up design by Cynthia De La Rosa and casting by Kay Magson.

The production runs from 28 June to 13 July at Curve Leicester, before transferring to Birmingham Hippodrome where it runs from 16 to 20 July.