The Color Purple | Greenway Court Theatre

GREENWAY  ARTS  ALLIANCE  PRESENTS THE TONY AWARD­‐WINNING  MUSICAL THE  COLOR PURPLE | DIRECTED  AND  CHOREOGRAPHED  BY  NAACP  AWARD­‐WINNER  JEFFREY  POLK | Through December 9, 2018

PHOTO: Darrett Sanders | SouthPasadenan.com | Elizabeth Adabale as "Nettie" and Gabrielle Jackson as "Celie" in The Color Purple at Greenway Court Theatre from now through Dec. 9, 2018

Greenway  Arts  Alliance  (Whitney  Weston  and  Pierson  Blaetz,   Co­‐Founders  and  Co-­Artistic  Directors)  presents THE  COLOR  PURPLE  at  the   Greenway  Court  Theatre  (544  N.  Fairfax  Avenue,  Los  Angeles),  playing  through  December  9, 2018.

PHOTO: Darrett Sanders | SouthPasadenan.com | April Nixon as “Shug” and The Company of The Color Purple at Greenway Court Theatre from now through Dec. 9, 2018

The   Tony  Award-­‐winning  musical  features  a  book  by  Marsha  Norman  and  music  and  lyrics  by  Brenda  Russell,   Allee  Willis  and  Stephen  Bray.  The  production  is  directed  and  choreographed  by  NAACP  Theater  Award-winner  Jeffrey  Polk  (Smokey  Joe’s  Café).  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. 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!

PHOTO: Darrett Sanders | SouthPasadenan.com | The Company of The Color Purple at Greenway Court Theatre from now through Dec. 9, 2018

“THE  COLOR  PURPLE  is  a  story  of  redemption  and  empowerment  and  particularly  relevant  in  today’s   political  climate,”  said  Whitney  Weston,  Greenway  Arts  Alliance  Co-­‐Founder  and  Co-­Artistic  Director.   “We  feel  fortunate  that  Los  Angeles  theatre  veteran,  Jeffrey  Polk  brings  this  powerful  story  to  life  on  our   stage,”  added  Pierson  Blaetz,  Greenway  Arts  Alliance  Co-Founder  and  Co-Artistic  Director. “I’m  so  proud  of  this  stellar  cast  that  we  put  together; all  local  and  within  our  community  –  including   the  immensely  talented  Carol  Dennis,  Lynette  DuPree,  April  Nixon,  and  Aaron  Braxton,”  said  Jeffrey  Polk,   Director  and  Choreographer  of  THE  COLOR  PURPLE.  “I’m  also  thrilled  to  have  collaborated  with   internationally  renowned  composer,  pianist,  conductor,  orchestrator  and  musical  director  Patrick  Gandy   who  has  worked  with  such  great  artists  as  Diana  Ross,  Stevie  Wonder  and  Dianne  Reeves.  That  is  just   the  beginning  of  the  greatness  and  the  talent  of  this  cast  and  this  production  team.”  Polk  added,   “Together  we  tell  the  story  of  THE  COLOR  PURPLE  through  Alice  Walker’s  novel  as  we  give  it  the  music   and  life  to  move  the  audience.  The  intimate  theater  lets  you  feel  that  you  are  right  there,  so  you  can  see   the  actors  eyes  and  experience  their  journey  with  them.”

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PHOTO: Darrett Sanders | SouthPasadenan.com | Gabrielle Jackson as “Celie” and Aaron Braxon as “Mister,” and (background L-R) Jeremy Whatley as “Harpo” and Charles McCoy as Ensemble in The Color Purple at Greenway Court Theatre from now through Dec. 9, 2018

In  addition  to  director/choreographer  Jeffrey  Polk,  THE  COLOR  PURPLE  creative  team  includes:  music   director  Patrick  Gandy,  set  designer  Christopher  Murillo;  costume  designer  Dana  Rebecca  Woods; lighting  designer  Azra  King-Abadi,  and  sound  designer  Julie  Ferrin.   THE  COLOR  PURPLE  premiered  at  the  Alliance  Theatre  Company  in  Atlanta,  Georgia  and  opened  on   Broadway  on  November  1,  2005.  It  was  nominated  for  eleven  2006  Tony  Awards,  including  Best  Musical,   Best  Book,  and  Best  Original  Score.  The  London  off-West  End  production  opened  on  Broadway  in  2015,   winning  the  Tony  Award  for  Best  Revival  of  a  Musical.

THE  COLOR  PURPLE  plays  at  Greenway  Court  Theatre,  544  North  Fairfax  Avenue,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90036.   The  production  will  play  through  December  9,  2018.  Performance  schedule  is  Fridays  at  8:00  p.m.,   Saturdays  at  8:00  p.m.,  and  Sundays  at  4:00  p.m.  Regular  performance  ticket  prices  for  general   admission  are  $45  and  Student/Senior  prices  are  $20.  THE  COLOR  PURPLE  is  also  available  through   Greenway  Arts  Alliance  2018|2019  Season  Subscription  packages  starting  at  $50.  Subscription  and  single   tickets  are  available  online  at  GreenwayCourtTheatre.org/THECOLORPURPLE.  For  more  information  call   323-­‐673-­‐0544  or  visit  GreenwayCourtTheatre.org.  Free  parking  is  available  in  the  lot  on  Fairfax  and   Clinton,  directly  adjacent  to  the  theatre.  The  parking  lot  is  shared  with  other  events,  please  allow  for   ample  time  to  park.

     FEATURING     ELIZABETH  ADABALE        AARON  BRAXTON        CAROL  DENNIS     LYNETTE  DUPREE        GABRIELLE  JACKSON        DOMINIQUE  KENT        RACHEL  SARAH  MOUNT    APRIL  NIXON        MARIAH  STRICKLAND        JEREMY  WHATLEY     PERFORMANCES  RUN  THROUGH  DECEMBER  9,  2018   AT  GREENWAY  COURT  THEATRE

GREENWAY  ARTS  ALLIANCE  (GAA)  –  Since  its  1997  inception,  the  Greenway  Arts  Alliance  has  united   communities  through  the  arts,  education  and  social  enterprise.  Through  Greenway  Court  Theatre’s   professional  theatre  productions,  Greenway  Institute  for  the  Arts’  education  programs  and  the  Melrose   Trading  Post’s  weekly  art-­‐based  open  market,  Greenway  Arts  Alliance  builds  a  vibrant  artistic   community  in  the  heart  of  Los  Angeles.  GAA  has  modeled  an  innovative  partnership  with  the  Fairfax   High  School  campus  to  leverage  community  resources  to  connect  the  profession  artistic  and  public   education  communities  around  a  commitment  to  learning  and  creation  in  the  arts.  Greenway  Arts   Alliance  was  Co-­‐Founded  by  artists-­‐activists  Whitney  Weston  and  Pierson  Blaetz,  both  of  whom  serve  as   Co-­‐Artistic  Directors  for  the  organization.     GREENWAY  COURT  THEATRE  –  Greenway  Court  was  initially  built  by  Fairfax  High  School  students  in   1939  as  a  class  project  and  used  as  a  Social  Hall  by  both  students  and  faculty.    It  sat  virtually  unused  for   many  years  until  it  was  finally  renovated  into  a  professional  99-­‐seat  theatre  by  Greenway  Arts  Alliance  in   2000,  to  benefit  both  the  school  and  the  surrounding  community.       Greenway  Court  Theatre  has  a  rich  history  of  presenting  and  producing  diverse  bodies  of  work.   Greenway  has  opened  its  door  to  many  main-­‐stage  productions,  weekly  open  mic  poetry,  festivals  and   world  premieres  that  have  moved  to  larger  venues  and  toured  across  the  country.