Cynthia Erivo to star in ‘The Color Purple’

Cynthia Erivo will join Jennifer Hudson on Broadway this autumn when the musical The Color Purple returns.

Erivo, who starred in the Menier Chocolate Factory production in London in 2013, will reprise her role of Celie in her Broadway debut. The production, which begins previews in November at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, is directed and designed by John Doyle.

Hudson will play Shug Avery, a sultry blues singer in the story adapted from Alice Walker’s novel about one woman’s triumph over adversity.

Music and lyrics are by Grammy winners Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. It is being produced by Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Oprah Winfrey, David Babani and Tom Siracusa.