Broadway Newcomer Jennie Harney Will Join The Color Purple

Jennie Harney will make her Broadway debut this fall in The Color Purple. She steps into the role of Nettie beginning September 20, filling in for Joaquina Kalukango, who takes her final bow before maternity leave on September 18.

Harney previously appeared in the national tour of Motown. She also won BET’s Apollo Live 2 competition in 2014.

The current cast at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre features Tony winners Cynthia Erivo and Heather Headley as Celie and Shug Avery, respectively, as well as Tony nominee Danielle Brooks as Sofia, Isaiah Johnson as Mister, Kyle Scatliffe as Harpo and Patrice Covington as Squeak. Jennifer Holliday will replace Headley as Shug beginning October 4.

Based on the Alice Walker novel, the musical follows Celie, a young black woman in Georgia who, through her friendship with her daughter-in-law and friend Sofia, relationship with the extravagant and troubled Shug Avery and her own self-acceptance, triumphs over adversity and learns to love herself.