Cast announced for The Color Purple in Birmingham
The cast has been announced for Birmingham Hippodrome and Leicester Curve's co-production of The Color Purple.
Leading the cast is Seyi Omooba in the role of heroine Celie in the Oprah Winfrey hit musical. She will be joined by Joanna Francis as Shug Avert, Ako Mitchell starring as Mister, Simon-Anthony Rhoden playing Harpo and Karen Mavundukure as Sofia.
Celie’s sister, Nettie, is played by recent graduate Danielle Fiamanya, and her father, Pa, is played by Delroy Brown
The cast is completed by Geoff Aymer, Owen Chaponda, Perola Congo, KM Drew Boateng, Danielle Kassaraté, Anelisa Lamola, Rosemary Annabella Nkrumah, Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy, Landi Oshinowo and Jo Servi.
The show will be directed by Tinuke Craig, winner of the 2014 Genesis Future Directors Award. Tinuke’s recent credits include random/generations, a double bill of plays by Debbie Tucker Green at Chichester Festival Theatre and I Call my Brothers by Jonas Hassen Khemiri at the Gate Theatre.
The Color Purple follows courageous heroine Celie, as she journeys through joy, despair, anguish and hope in her own personal awakening to discover her unique voice in the world.
Speaking about the announcement, Fiona Allan, artistic director and chief executive of Birmingham Hippodrome said: “We’re very proud to be working on this co-production with our friends at Curve Leicester, and hope it’s the start of many more collaborations.
"I know that our audiences here in the West Midlands will find the powerful story and characters both socially and culturally relevant; and what an incredible cast and creative team has been assembled to tell it.
"I can’t think of a better way to mark the Hippodrome’s 120th birthday than with our first main stage co-production.”
Curve’s chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster said: “Curve’s casting director Kay Magson and director Tinuke Craig have assembled an exceptional group of actors to create this Made at Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome co-production of the stunning musical The Color Purple.
"We are looking forward to welcoming them all to Leicester very much and know they will create something true, mind-blowing and beautiful.
“Seyi Omooba is an actress of immense power and she leads a formidable ensemble of astonishing talent; they are set to blow the roof off Leicester.”
The Color Purple comes to Birmingham Hippodrome from July 16 to 20.
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