It's Official! Cynthia Erivo Tapped for Broadway Revival of The Color Purple, Starring Jennifer Hudson

It’s confirmed! As previously speculated, Cynthia Erivo, who starred in the U.K.’s Menier Chocolate Factory production of The Color Purple as Celie, will reprise her role in the revival on the Great White Way. The John Doyle-helmed show, co-starring Jennifer Hudson as Shug Avery, has also announced dates and theater. The musical will begin performances on November 9 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre and officially open on December 3.

Erivo will be making her Broadway debut. Her additional stage credits include Henry IV, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Sister Act, I Can’t Sing and Dessa Rose.

The Color Purple features a book by Marsha Norman, lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray and music by Russell and Willis. Based on the novel by Alice Walker, the tuner tells the story of Celie, a woman who, through love, finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discovers her voice in the world.

Doyle’s stripped-down production opened in London on July 15, 2013. The new staging cuts approximately 30 minutes of material from the original incarnation and its producers include Oprah Winfrey.

Check out Erivo talking about Celie below.