'The Color Purple' Receives Stellar Reviews In Star-Studded Broadway Revival
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Broadway revival of "The Color Purple" opened to rave reviews this week.
The show, based on the novel by Alice Walker, has already appeared on "The Great White Way" as well as on the big screen.
This time around, Grammy-winner Jennifer Hudson makes her Broadway debut as blues singer Shug Avery.
"This is my first time ever playing a glamorous role and a light role, everything else has been really heavy, so its good to expand myself," Hudson said.
Set in the early 1900's, the story follows the struggles of a young black girl named Celie who has suffered from years of abuse by her own father.
"In the end it comes down to her she has to make the choice to change she has to make the choice to be strong, she has top make the choice to be comfortable within herself," actress Cynthia Erivo, who plays Celie, said.
Oprah Winfrey is on board as one of the producers, and she actually stared in the film as "Sofia," the character that Celie finds strength in.
This character on stage is played by another familiar face, Danielle Brooks, who many of you know as "Taystee" from the netflix show "Orange is the New Black."
"She's really just allowed me to play my part and entrusted me for that," Brooks said. "She had to sign off somewhere saying yes, so that I'm very humbled about."
Hudson told Nicolini that Oprah is very laid back -- but will she be nervous to perform for her?
"You want to live up to the expectation and make her proud," Hudson said. "So we've been working hard hunny she stopped by once or twice to see us so far so good."
The Color Purple is on Broadway at the Bernard Jacobs Theater.
"To be on that stage and to witness people just going through the journey with us and what it brings out of them its so powerful," Husdon said.
