Cearcy to Replace Goldsberry in Broadway's The Color Purple Jan. 17
By Ernio Hernandez
13 Jan 2006
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Darlesia Cearcy
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Darlesia Cearcy will joins the cast of The Color Purple Jan. 17 in the role of Nettie, replacing current star Renée Elise Goldsberry.
Goldsberry will play her final performances Jan. 15 in the musical based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and the Steven Spielberg film of the same name. Previews of the musical began at the Broadway Theatre Nov. 1 toward an official opening Dec. 1.
Cearcy has trod the Broadway boards in The Goodbye Girl, Ragtime, Smokey Joe's Cafe and The Who's Tommy. Other credits include Once on This Island and the national tours of Jesus Christ Superstar and Ragtime.
Goldsberry — who made her Broadway debut in The Lion King as Nala — curently stars on on ABC soap "One Life to Live" as Evangeline Williamson. Other credits include Dreamgirls, Paper Moon, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom on stage, "All About You," "Final Breakdown" in film and appearances on TV"s "Ally McBeal," "Enterprise," "Providence."
Gary Griffin stages The Color Purple featuring a book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman ('night, Mother). Music is by pop songwriters Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.
The Color Purple is "an inspiring family saga that tells the unforgettable story of a woman, who, through love, finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world," as a release states. The show's score blends "gospel, jazz, ragtime and the blues."
Surnameless star LaChanze (Once on This Island, Ragtime, Company) headlines as the story's central character Celie. Broadway newcomer Elisabeth Withers appears as Shug with Renée Elise Goldsberry (The Lion King) featured as Nettie, joining original stars Felicia P. Fields as Sofia and Kingsley Leggs as Mister.
Presenting producer Oprah Winfrey appeared as Sofia in the 1985 Spielberg film version opposite Whoopi Goldberg as Celie and Danny Glover as Albert. Walker adapted her novel for the screen.
Winfrey, the sole above-the-title producer, joins The Color Purple Broadway team which includes Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Quincy Jones, Creative Battery, Anna Fantaci & Cheryl Lachowicz, Independent Presenters Network, Lowy Family Group, Stephanie McClelland, Gary Winnick, Jan Kallish, Andrew Asnes & Adam Zotovich and Todd Johnson.
Tickets for The Color Purple are currently on sale through (212) 239-6200, at the Broadway Theatre Box Office, at 1681 Broadway, or via the link below.
For more information, visit the website at www.colorpurple.com.
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