{"id":26853,"date":"2017-12-12T09:01:59","date_gmt":"2017-12-12T14:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=26853"},"modified":"2017-12-15T14:01:46","modified_gmt":"2017-12-15T19:01:46","slug":"26853","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=26853","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: The Color Purple returns to Philadephia"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff,<\/strong> Staff Writer, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Color Purple<\/p><\/div>\n

For the second time this season, area theater fans are being treated to an inaugural run of a hit Broadway show\u2019s National Tour.<\/p>\n

The North American Tour of the Tony Award\u00ae-winning revival of \u201cThe Color Purple\u201d visits Philadelphia from December 12-17 as part of the Broadway Philadelphia series, which is presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and The Shubert Organization.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Color Purple\u201d is the epic tale of 40 years in the life of a family in rural Georgia with the focus on 14-year-old Celie. When Celie is forced by her abusive father to marry a cruel farmer, called \u201cMister,\u201d she is separated from all that she loves. Ultimately, Celie conquers the odds to find her voice and her strength. \u201cThe Color Purple\u201d celebrates the healing power of love and the importance of a zest for life.<\/p>\n

Based on the Alice Walker\u2019s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and the Warner Bros.\/Amblin Entertainment motion picture, \u201cThe Color Purple\u201d has been \u00a0adapted for the stage by Tony- and Pulitzer-winner Marsha Norman with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray. Tony Award\u00ae-winning director and scenic designer John Doyle (Sweeney Todd, Company) recreates his award-winning work for the national tour, alongside costumes by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting by Jane Cox, sound by Dan Moses Schreier and wig & hair design by Charles G. LaPointe.<\/p>\n

The revival of \u201cThe Color Purple\u201d opened in summer 2013 at London\u2019s Menier Chocolate Factory and followed with a Broadway run at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. \u201cThe Color Purple\u201d won two 2016 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, two Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical, the 2017 Grammy Award\u00ae for Best Musical Theater Album, and a Daytime Emmy\u00ae. \u201cThe Color Purple\u201d played 483 performances on Broadway, closing on January 8, 2017.<\/p>\n

The cast of the National Tour features Adrianna Hicks (Aladdin, Sister Act) as Celie, Carla R. Stewart (Ghost, Rent) as Shug Avery, Carrie Compere (Holler If You Hear Me, Shrek the Musical) as Sofia, and N\u2019Jameh Camara (X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation) as Nettie.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tour started this past September,\u201d said Camara, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Hartford, Connecticut. \u201cWe teched for a week in Schenectady, New York. Then, the official opening was in Baltimore, Maryland.\u201d<\/p>\n

Camara is an Equity actor, writer and teaching artist. She is a first generation American from families from The Gambia and the Philippines. She received her M.F.A from University of California at San Diego and her B.A from Loyola University Chicago. She is a member of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association where she presented on Intersectional Arts Pedagogy at the 2017 VASTA Singapore conference.<\/p>\n

She is currently a writer for the Dramatists Guild production of The Monologue Project,\u00a0an anthology that writes audition material for women of the African Diaspora.<\/p>\n

Recent productions for Camara include \u201cThe Color Purple\u201d National Tour and the World Premiere of \u201cPick X: or Betty Shabazz vs. The Nation\u201d by Marcus Gardley. She has also written and performed a one-woman show about a young Maya Angelou \u2013 \u201cMarguerite: Our Mama Angelou Who Saw the World Before It Saw Her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI watched the film of \u2018The Color Purple\u2019 once when I was getting ready for the audition,\u201d said Camara. \u201cI saw the first Broadway tour in Chicago back in 2008. It was the first professional musical I had ever seen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was also the first musical I ever saw that had an all-black cast. As a woman of color, that meant a lot to me. I remember being deeply moved \u2013 and being thrilled. I was a junior in high school in Milwaukee. We had a trip to Chicago to see the show at the Cadillac Theater. My high school music director told me to listen to the songs. I remember crying \u2013 and giving it a standing ovation.\u201d<\/p>\n

A decade later, Camara is playing one of the key roles in the National Tour of the musical.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I auditioned for \u2018The Color Purple,\u2019 they only called for the role of Nettie,\u201d said Camara. \u201cI had a second audition and then got called back and got cast in the role. That was back in July. I was one of the last cast members to be cast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Camara spoke of the difference between the movie and the stage show.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf this show were just a play with music, it would be very close to the movie,\u201d said Camara. \u201cBecause all the characters are being introduced through musical numbers, it makes a difference. Audiences get to know the characters through musical theater reference. The musical gets closer to the heart of the book.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love that Nettie, at a young age, wants to go to school \u2013 wants to be educates. She dreams of getting knowledge. She wants to be a teacher. She dreams of big things. She wants to be a missionary to Africa \u2013 to teach there and develop a world view. I can relate to that because I\u2019m from Wisconsin and wanted to pursue an education. So, I studied abroad at a university in Rome.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Color Purple\u201d \u2013 as a book, a movie and a musical \u2013 has amassed a huge following of fans of all ages and all colors.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the show, you realize that it\u2019s not just a show about African-Americans,\u201d said Camara. \u201cIt\u2019s a story about two women that asks \u2013 what does it mean to be human and what does it take to survive? We face ourselves as audience members at the end of the show.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cThe Color Purple\u201d — https:\/\/youtu.be\/9mYZH9OF6SE<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Color Purple\u201d is running now through December 17 at the Forrest Theatre. Ticket prices start at $62.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Irish Christmas in America<\/p><\/div>\n

On December 13, the Grand Opera House (818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577, www.thegrandwilmington.org<\/a>) is presenting a concert that is a showcase of international music and a celebration of the Christmas holiday. The show — \u201cIrish Christmas in America\u201d — will treat fans to Celtic holiday traditions.<\/p>\n

The hugely popular Irish Christmas in America show, now in its 13th season, features top Irish music, song and dance in an engaging performance rich in history, humor and boundless energy. Produced by Ois\u00edn Mac Diarmada of award-winning lrish group T\u00e9ada, the 2017 tour brings back the amazing S\u00e9amus Begley, (TG4 Traditional Singer of the Year) along with the immense vocal talents of Sligo\u2019s Niamh Farrell.<\/p>\n

This family-friendly performance features evocatively-sung Irish ballads, lively instrumental tunes and thrilling Irish dancing, while evocative photographic images provide a backdrop to some of the rich historical traditions. The show offers a memorable glimpse into the enchanting spirit of Christmas, as the finest traditional artists from Ireland bring a fun-filled start to the holiday season of 2017 to American stages.<\/p>\n

The holiday show was first conceived in 2005 with past tours featuring such stellar guest vocalists as S\u00e9amus Begley, Teresa Horgan, M\u00e9abh Begley, Lumiere, Karan Casey, Cara Dillon, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Cathie Ryan and Michael Londra. Mac Diarmada enthuses about the program as a way to bring traditional and often unknown Irish customs to the States.<\/p>\n

According to Mac Diarmada, \u201cOne of the most heartfelt themes of Irish Christmas is emigration. Music was a way that people stayed close to home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show brings to stage the seasonal traditions of Ireland, where friends and family gather around the hearth or in pubs to share songs and stories. The warm and lively performance features compelling songs and carols in both English and Irish, and plenty of good Irish fun.<\/p>\n

Champion step dancer\u00a0Samantha Harvey\u00a0lights up the stage, and joins in on piano with\u00a0Diarmada,\u00a0Grainne Hambley\u00a0on the harp, and\u00a0Se\u00e1n Gavin\u00a0on the\u00a0uilleann\u00a0pipes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my second year with the show,\u201d said Farrell, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Manchester, New Hampshire. \u201cToday is our one-and-only day off. We started on October 21. Last week, we were on the West Coast and cities in Arizona and Colorado. Now, we\u2019re on the East Coast.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the 13th year for the show. The core group has been the same for a number of years and they bring in singers each year. We had a blast last Christmas and I\u2019m glad to be asked back. I got a call back in January asking me if I wanted to do this year\u2019s tour. The music circles in Ireland are relatively small. Oisin is from Sligo too. S\u00e9amus is from West Kerry. He was an idol as a singer when I was growing up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Farrell came to attention in 2014 during a 10-month world tour with English singer-songwriting star David Gray. Farrell also joined the Irish group Project West with whom she has toured extensively.<\/p>\n

\u201cProject West toured the U.S. and Ireland last summer,\u201d said Farrell. \u201cWe still play together but nothing has been lined up for next year yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Niamh Farrell preforming on this tour should not be confused with another Irish singer from the Dublin band Ham Sandwich. That singer has an entirely different claim to fame.<\/p>\n

Ham Sandwich\u2019s planned performance at the Glastonbury Festival in 2005 was disrupted after its lead singer Niamh Farrell gave birth to a baby she didn\u2019t even know she was expecting. She was rushed to the hospital complaining about what she thought were stomach pains — but which she soon found was something completely different. She was pregnant and about to give birth to a son.<\/p>\n

But, that was 12 years ago and the only similarities between the two singers are their names and their Irish roots. The crew of \u201cIrish Christmas in America\u201d knows there\u2019s no need to worry if Farrell is spending a longer time than usual in the ladies\u2019 room.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are several singers in Ireland with the name Niamh Farrell,\u201d said Farrell. \u201cHam Sandwich\u2019s singer definitely is not me. And, that was rock. I\u2019m a traditional singer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Irish traditional music is at the core of the \u201cIrish Christmas in America\u201d show.<\/p>\n

\u201cIrish music is always evolving,\u201d said Farrell. \u201cBut, to be considered Irish music, it has to be shaped in the tradition. In this show, most of the lads come from a traditional background.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do too but I\u2019m also influenced by jazz and American folk music. \u2018Irish Christmas in America\u2019 definitely showcases Christmas in Ireland but we also touch on elements of American folk.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe instrumentation is very Celtic. The sounds you hear are very Celtic. The repertoire is a mixture of Irish tunes with Christmas ideas in mind, carols \u2013 some Irish and some instrumental and folky songs that have Christmas elements.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Irish Christmas in America \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/o3liQXuoOY4<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Grand Opera will start at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $26-$31.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times For the second time this season, area theater fans are being treated to an inaugural run of a hit Broadway show\u2019s National Tour. The North American Tour of the Tony Award\u00ae-winning revival of \u201cThe Color Purple\u201d visits Philadelphia from December 12-17 as part of the Broadway Philadelphia series, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26855,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[6518,9742,9779],"class_list":["post-26853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-featured","tag-irish-christmas-in-america","tag-the-color-purple"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26853"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26853\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26897,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26853\/revisions\/26897"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/26855"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}