The Color Purple: Kenita R. Miller to assume the role of Celie

Kenita R. Miller is to play the role of Celie in the Broadway musical the Broadway Musical The Color Purple on 20 Feb 2007. She assumes the role from Jeannette I. Bayardelle who leaves the show on 18 Feb 2007.

Miller made her Broadway debut as the understudy for the role of Celie in the original Broadway cast.

The Color Purple currently features Alton Fitzgerald White (Mister), Larry Marshall (Ol' Mister), Natasha Yvette Williams (Sofia), Elisabeth Withers-Mendes (Shug Avery), Darlesia Cearcy (Nettie), Chaz Lamar Shepherd (Harpo) and Krisha Marcano (Squeak).

The musical opened at the Broadway Theatre on 1 Dec 2005, following previews from 1 Nov 2006 and is currently booking to 2 Sep 2007.

Based on Alice Walker's classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and the landmark film by Steven Spielberg, The Color Purple is the story of a woman, who, through love, finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world.

Directed by Gary Griffin, The Color Purple features a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning composer/lyricists Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray with choreography by Donald Byrd.

The production features scenic design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Tony Award winner Brian MacDevitt and sound design by Jon Weston. The orchestrations are by Jonathan Tunick, Kevin Stites is the Music Supervisor and Linda Twine is the Musical Director.

The musical is produced on Broadway by Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Creative Battery, Roy Furman, Quincy Jones.