'The Color Purple' Sets Closing Date

Say it ain't so! The current Broadway revival of The Color Purple has announced it will close up shop on the Great White Way early next year. The Cynthia Erivo-starring musical based on the lauded 1982 novel by author Alice Walker will give its final performance on January 8, 2017.

Reportedly, the Tony Award-winning musical that made Erivo a Broadway star will follow its new year closure with a North American tour in the fall of 2017. Come closing time this January, The Color Purple will have played 449 regular performances and 33 preview performances.

The Color Purple features a book by Marsha Norman with music and lyrics by Allee Willis, Brenda Russell and Stephen Bray. It was was nominated for a total of four Tony Awards at this year's ceremony, eventually nabbing the vaunted trophy for Best Musical Revival. Erivo also took home the Tony Award for Lead Actress in a Musical (during an awards season that was heavily dominated by Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton).

Broadway.com reports:

"At time of closing, the show will have played 33 previews and 449 regular performances at Broadway's Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. The John Doyle-helmed musical officially opened on December 10, 2015; a North American tour of the production will launch in the fall of 2017."

Playbill pitched in with a refresher on the 'Purp's starring cast and repertory company:

"The production currently stars Erivo, along with Grammy and Tony Award winner Jennifer Holliday; and the Tony-nominated Danielle Brooks. The company of The Color Purple also includes Isaiah Johnson, Jennie Harney, Kyle Scatliffe, Phoenix Best, Dwayne Clark, Lawrence Clayton, Carrie Compere, Patrice Covington, J. Daughtry, Adrianna Hicks, Bre Jackson, Grasan Kingsberry, Kevin Mambo, Ken Robinson, Antoine L. Smith, Carla R. Stewart, Akron Watson, and Rema Webb."

Below, check out a YouTube video of the Color Purple cast at work.

We want to hear from you. Have you seen the latest The Color Purple revival or previous productions of the musical? What did you think of the show? Let us know your thoughts on the Broadway musical in the comments section below.

TagsThe Color Purple, Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Holliday, Danielle Brooks, Isaiah Johnson, Jennie Harney, Kyle Scatliffe, Phoenix Best, Dwayne Clark, Lawrence Clayton, Carrie Compere, Patrice Covington, J. Daughtry, Adrianna Hicks, Bre Jackson, Grasan Kingsberry, Kevin Mambo, Ken Robinson, Antoine L. Smith, Carla R. Stewart, Akron Watson, Rema Webb, Alice Walker, Marsha Norman, Allee Willis, Brenda Russell, Stephen Bray, Purps, The Purps