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.

Written by Marsha Norman
Music & Lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray

  • EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Vince Farmer
  • DIRECTOR: Kyona Levine Farmer (NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Graduate, Award-nominated Director)
  • MUSIC DIRECTOR: Jeanine McAdams (Grammy Award-winning Musician)
  • CHOREOGRAPHER: Amber Nadelkov (Equity Dancer)
  • SCENIC DESIGNER: Bonnie Sprung (Award-winning Artist)
  • STAGE MANAGER: Hillary Humphries
  • ASST. STAGE MANAGER: Danielle Strong-Robinson Smith

SHOW/REHEARSAL INFO

SparKyL Entertainment, Inc. is excited and proud to have the opportunity to produced the 11-time Tony-nominated musical, The Color Purple, at this amazingly beautiful performing arts venue. 

  • VENUE:  Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts, Orlando, FL
  • AUDITION DATES: December 3rd & December 4th
  • TENTATIVE REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:  Rehearsals begin early January 2024.  Rehearsals will take place in Orlando, Florida.  Specific details will be given to the final cast.   Rehearsal conflicts must be noted on the audition form.  Final rehearsal schedule will take cast conflicts into consideration. 
  • TECH WEEK: March 4 – March 7, 2024. *All actors must attend.
  • SHOW RUN:  March 8 – March 10, 2024.  
  • PAY:  This is a non-union show.  Actors will receive a small post-production stipend.

AUDITION INFO/SIGN-UP

Seeking non-union actors for SparKyL Entertainment, Inc.’s production of The Color Purple.  All roles are open.  SparKyL Entertainment, Inc. encourages anyone who is interested to audition and is always eager to welcome new faces and fresh talent to its stage. Only local talent will be considered. 

Audition Requirements

Auditions will be held on Sunday, December 3rd and Monday, December 4th, 2023.  Actors should use the sign-up form to schedule an audition.  Actors who do not sign up will have to wait for an open spot.  

Actors should prepare a 1-minute monologue and a song (up to 2 minutes) in the style of the show.  *See The Color Purple Musical Soundtrack on YouTube.

Callback Information

The callback will be held on Monday, December 4th.  Actors who are asked to attend the callback should prepare to participate in a dance/movement audition. Wear or bring comfortable clothes and shoes.  Actors may, also, be asked to read from the script.  

AUDITION FORM should be completed prior to audition. *Click Link.

AUDITION SIGN-UP is available.  Actors should arrive 5-10 minutes early.   Actors who do not sign up will have to wait for an open slot.  

Sign Up!

ROLE BREAKDOWN

  1. CELIE (African American, 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.
  2. NETTIE (African American, 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.
  3. HARPO (African American, 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.
  4. SOFIA (African American, 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.
  5. MISTER (African American, 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.
  6. SHUG (African American, 30s-40s): A popular singer. Attractive, confident, dynamic, powerful, irresistible, but has a frailty. Needs a knockout, Bessie Smith-style, bluesy singing voice.
  7. SQUEAK (African American, 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, (The Color Purple Musical),

  8. Female Ensemble: Females, 16-50s
    any age; strong singers to portray several characters; Church Lady, Olivia and others.

    Male Ensemble: Males, 16-50s
    any age; strong singers to portray several characters; PA, Bobby/Guard, Buster/Grady, Adam and others.

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