We hope you get it.

AUDITION DATES: Friday, June 7 at 6:30 pm OR Saturday, June 8 at 4:00 pm

AUDITION LOCATION: T.B.A.

PRODUCTION DATES: September 6-8 & 13-15, 2024

DIRECTOR: LaWanda Jones

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS: Please prepare a 90 second song in a Gospel style (Broadway or non-Broadway). Vocal auditions will be judged on vocal quality, as well as stage presence/performance.  No a cappella auditions. You may sing to a karaoke track on your phone. Dress comfortably for movement, as you will be asked to learn a brief dance combination. Some auditionees may be asked to read from the script or to attend a callback.

THE SHOW

This musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (and the popular 1985 Steven Spielberg film) spotlights Celie, a downtrodden young woman whose personal awakening over the course of 40 years forms the arc of this epic story.  With a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music and blues, THE COLOR PURPLE is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love, and a celebration of life. It premiered at the Alliance Theatre Company in Atlanta, Georgia and opened on Broadway on November 1, 2005, where it was nominated for eleven 2006 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Original Score. The London off-West End production moved to Broadway in 2015, winning the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

ROLES TO BE FILLED

NOTE: THE COLOR PURPLE features an all-Black cast.

CELIE (Female, 20s-early 30s) Drives the story. Vulnerable, spirited, introverted, mischievous, seemingly passive but really not, has a deep, hard soul, has a sense of humor which is sometimes wicked. She is an observer. Needs a great belt singing voice with lots of soul.

NETTIE (Female, 20s-early 30s) Celie’s younger sister. Adventuresome, feisty spirit, maternal, more educated, and knowledgeable than Celie. She has a powerful bond with Celie. Forced by Mister to leave Celie, she starts a new life in Africa. Needs a great belt singing voice with African influence.

HARPO (Male, 20s-early 30s) Mister’s vulnerable, confused, good-hearted son. Represents the new generation. He marries the independent Sofia. He spends much time trying to get Sofia to obey him the way Celie obeys his father, but he is unsuccessful. Harpo eventually establishes a juke joint in his first house and becomes Squeak’s lover. Later, he and Sofia reconcile. Through his love of Sofia, he learns how to love a woman. Needs a great tenor singing voice.

SOFIA (Female, 30s) Powerful warrior woman. Comfortable being large, great sense of humor, touching, vulnerable. Married to Harpo, she does not let anyone mistreat her. Needs comic chops. Need a great belt singing voice.

MISTER (Male, 30s-40s. Also known as Albert) Like Celie, a deep well. Handsome, big, masculine, strong presence. Married to Celie, in love with Shug. Needs a great singing voice.

SHUG (Female, 30s-40s) A popular singer. Attractive, confident, dynamic, powerful, irresistible, but has a frailty. Needs a knockout, Bessie Smith-style, bluesy singing voice.

SQUEAK (Female, 20s) Harpo’s lover after Sofia leaves him. Although she is mistreated, she eventually undergoes a transformation, demanding to be called by her actual name, Mary Agnes, and starting a new life. Attractive, sassy, fiery, strong-willed, unafraid to take anybody on, has a caring heart. Needs comic chops. Needs a great singing voice with belt and soprano capability.  Squeak is featured in the song, “Brown Betty.”

ENSEMBLE (Males and Females, age 15+. All types and singing ranges) Need fantastic singing voices and dynamic personalities. To play various roles in the ensemble The ensemble includes a trio known as Church Ladies, busybody types who are featured throughout the show.