The original Dreamgirls showstopper, Tony Award winner Jennifer Holliday, is heading back to Broadway to join the cast of The Color Purple.
Holliday, the actress whose powerhouse performance as Effie White in the original production of Dreamgirls is the stuff of Broadway legend, will step into the role of Shug Avery in the Menier Chocolate Factory production on 4 October.
Although Holliday will directly succeed Heather Headley who leaves the show on 2 October, in a nice piece of casting symmetry Holliday will be playing the role first played by Jennifer Hudson in the production. Hudson shot to international stardom with her Oscar-winning portrayal of Effie in the movie version of Dreamgirls.
Holliday who last appeared on Broadway in 2001 as the matron in Chicago, previously played Sofia in a touring production of The Color Purple in 2014.
This year’s Tony Award winner for Best Musical Revival, the Menier production transferred from London to New York in 2013 with multi award-winner Cynthia Erivo continuing in the role of Celie.
Based on Alice Walker’s bestselling novel, the musical has a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Stephen Bray and Allee Willis.
Angela Thomas
Readers may also be interested in:
The Color Purple – Bernard B Jacobs Theatre, New York – Review
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