The Color Purple: Zonya Love to play Celie from 9 Jan American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones makes her Broadway debut

The producers of The Color Purple has announced that Zonya Love will make her Broadway debut as Celie ion 9 Jan 2008, alongside the previously announced Chaka Khan as Sofia and BeBe Winans as Harpo.

As previously announced 'American Idol' finalist LaKisha Jones makes her Broadway debut today (19 Dec 2007) playing the Church Soloist who opensThe Color Purple with the rousing gospel number "Mysterious Ways." After 9 Jan 2008, Jones will play the role of Sofia at all matinee performances.

Zonya Love, originally hailing from Durham, North Carolina, intended to pursue a music career but switched to theater as a freshman in high school. She received a BFA in Theatre from North Carolina A&T State University, and a MFA in Theatre from The University of Nevada Las Vegas. She moved to New York in September, 2007, and has been teaching theater and Head Start classes.

Fantasia, who was just nominated for three Grammy Awards, will play her final performance as Celie on 6 Jan 2007. Her first performance was on 10 Apr 2007, and she extended her original six month run by an addition three months.

The Color Purple also currently features Alton Fitzgerald White (Mister), Larry Marshall (Ol' Mister), Natasha Yvette Williams (Sofia), Elisabeth Withers-Mendes (Shug), 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.