In Living Color

Alice Walker's 1983 novel The Color Purple won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction that year, as well as bringing Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey to the big screen in 1985 to star in Stephen Spielberg's Oscar-nominated film adaptation. A musical version also debuted in...

By Noah W. Bailey

September 25, 2008

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Alice Walker's 1983 novel The Color Purple won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction that year, as well as bringing Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey to the big screen in 1985 to star in Stephen Spielberg's Oscar-nominated film adaptation. A musical version also debuted in December of 2005, gaining accolades from Time and USA Today and introducing the story of Celie, Sofia and Shug to a whole new generation. Most amusing, the premiere of the musical also gave Oprah Winfrey a reason to bury the hatchet with David Letterman, appearing on his show for the first time after years of "feuding" and even allowing Dave to escort her on the red carpet at the gala premiere. This week the musical adaptation finally makes its way to the Music Hall at Fair Park, rounding out the Dallas Summer Musicals' 68th season and running throughout the State Fair of Texas. This production stars Jeannette Bayardelle as Celie, as well as Felicia P. Fields, Angela Robinson and former American Idol contestant LaToya London. The show runs at 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays through October 19 (with additional 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays). Tickets are $25 to $77. Call 214-421-5678 or visit dallasummermusicals.org.
Tuesdays-Sundays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Sundays, 2 p.m. Starts: Sept. 30. Continues through Oct. 19, 2008

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