The Color Purple Auditions

This beautiful musical adaptation of “The Color Purple “ takes place over the course of the early 1900-1940s in rural Georgia and follows the lives and struggles of the Black community who live there. We are looking for Black/POC actors and actresses to authentically tell this powerful story.

Directed by Nicole Pittman

Audition Schedule and Information

Auditions will be held Saturday Feb 4, 2023 beginning at 9:30 am at Hoogland Center for the Arts (420 S. 6th st). Callbacks will begin later that afternoon (with a possible reschedule date Sun Feb, 5 2023)

Please sign up for both a Vocal (4 slots available) and a Movement (2 slots available) audition slot as spots are limited (8-10 for vocal auditions/15-20 for movement). Walk-ins are welcome pending availability, but signing up ahead of time is strongly encouraged! Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your audition time to sign in.

Auditionees are asked to audition with musical selections from the show or in the style of (Gospel, Blues, Soul, and Jazz) of up to a minute and a half in length. Auditionees will not need to prepare anything for the movement portion of auditions.

Rehearsals are set to begin the week of March 20th with a cast and staff meeting in early March (TBD). Performances are May 12-14 and May 19-21. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:30 pm. Sunday shows start at 2 pm.

About

This musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (and the popular 1985 Steven Spielberg film) centers Celie, a downtrodden young Black woman whose personal awakening over the course of 40 years forms the arc of this epic story.

With a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music and blues, THE COLOR PURPLE is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love, and a celebration of life.

Audition Registration

All auditionees must also fill out an audition form prior to auditions. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe9Hj9s8P9aU0fVigwTJ_GlHwCrqqOlSK5j6mebwPCntyAD_w/viewform?usp=sf_link

Please make sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled audition time slot.

For questions or if you are unable to make the audition date, please email: colorpurpleSTC23@gmail.com

Character Descriptions

CELIE (African-American, 20s-early 30s, mezzo soprano-soprano): Drives the story. Vulnerable, spirited, introverted, and mischievous. Spends her early years very passive but grows into her own strength. Has a deep, hard soul, and a sense of humor which is sometimes wicked. She is a curious observer. Needs a strong, belting singing voice with lots of soul.

SHUG (African-American, 30s-40s, alto-mezzo soprano): A popular blues singer wrapped up in life’s vices. Attractive, confident, dynamic, powerful, irresistible, but has a hidden frailty to her. Her vulnerability is shocking later on. She is loved by both Celie and Mister. Needs a knockout, Bessie Smith-style, bluesy singing voice.

MISTER (African-American, 30s-50s, baritone-bass): Also known as ALBERT. Like Celie, a deep well. Handsome, big, masculine, strong presence, dominating, capable of brutal behavior but also a victim in his own way. Married to Celie, he abuses her. He is in love with Shug. He transforms into a kind man by the end of the story. Needs a strong singing voice.

SOFIA (African-American, 20s-30s, alto): Powerful warrior woman. Physically bigger but beautiful. Comfortable being large, great sense of humor, touching, vulnerable. Married to Harpo, she does not let anyone mistreat her. Needs comic chops. Needs a soulful, belting voice.

HARPO (African-American, 20s-30s, tenor): Mister’s confused, good-hearted son. Represents the new generation, he strives to be seen as a man by both his father and his wife. He marries the independent Sofia. He spends much time trying to get Sofia to obey him the way Celie obeys his father, but he is unsuccessful as Sofia is considerably stronger-willed than he is.

NETTIE (African-American, 20s-30s, mezzo soprano-soprano): Celie’s younger sister. Attractive, adventuresome, feisty spirit, maternal, educated and knowledgeable. She has a powerful bond with Celie. Forced by Mister to leave Celie, she starts a new life in Africa. Needs a stong belting voice with improv skills.

SQUEAK ( African-American, 20s, soprano): Harpo’s lover after Sofia leaves him. Although she is mistreated, she eventually undergoes a transformation. Attractive, sassy, fiery, strong-willed, unafraid to take anybody on, has a caring heart. Needs comic chops. Needs a great singing voice with belt and soprano capability.

ADULT ENSEMBLE (15-20): Males and females of all ages, African-American. All types and singing ranges. Need strong singing voices (mainly in gospel, blues/jazz, and soul styles) and dynamic personalities to play various roles in the ensemble. The ensemble also includes a trio known as Church Ladies, busybody types who are featured throughout the show with tight, gospel-styled vocals.

CHILDREN ENSEMBLE (3-5): Two girls to play young Celie and young Nettie (ages 10-14) with strong soprano voices, can double as Mister’s daughters. A boy to play young Harpo (age 8-10) with a spoken role, other possible children to join the ensemble numbers and play Mister’s daughters and young Adam and Olivia.

FEATURED ENSEMBLE ROLES: MISTER’S DAUGHTER, HENRIETTA – CHURCH SOLOIST/CHURCH LADY, DORIS – CHURCH LADY, DARLENE – CHURCH LADY, JARENE, DAISY, PREACHER, PRISON GUARD, PA, OL’ MISTER, BUSTER, CHIEF, GRADY, BOBBY, OLIVIA, ADAM