The Color Purple Recap at The Paper Mill Playhouse September 2018

Enjoy my video reportage from a late September 2018 performance of "The Color Purple," the Tony-Award winning musical revival adapted from Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning, bestselling novel and Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated film. The production kicked-off the 80th anniversary season at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, one of the country’s leading regional theaters, and recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award. The story follows Celie through a life of hardship and trauma beginning in rural Georgia in the early 20th century, which culminates in an ending of celebration, triumph and redemption. It’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and the power of love and loyalty. Based on the original Broadway production that ran from 2005 to 2008, director John Doyle remounted the 2015 musical revival with a book by Marsha Norman, and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. In this video, I chatted with the dynamic cast and crew, and Mark S. Hoebee, the Paper Mill Playhouse's Producing Artistic Director, at the post-performance cast party, featuring Adrianna Hicks as Celie, Carla R. Stewart as Shug Avery, Carrie Compere as Sofia, and Gavin Gregory as Mister. The show features the national touring-company. Enjoy! Credits and Thanks: Production Video used in B-Roll: The Paper Mill Playhouse. Millburn, New Jersey. Filming and Editing: Brian Smith Photo 1: Photo by Jerry Dalia; Center: Adrianna Hicks (Celie); Background from left to right: Darnell Abraham (Adam) and N’Jameh Camara (Nettie) Photo 2: Photo by Jerry Dalia; From left to right: Adrianna Hicks (Celie) and N’Jameh Camara (Nettie).