A Church Lady Will Step Center Stage: Carrie Compere to Replace Danielle Brooks in The Color Purple

Hell yes! Carrie Compere will assume the role of Sofia in the Tony-winning revival of The Color Purple on November 15. She steps in for Danielle Brooks, who originated the role; the Tony nominee is scheduled to give her final performance in the John Doyle-helmed production on November 13.

Compere has been performing as one of the original Church Ladies in the revival. She has also performed on Broadway in Holler If Ya Hear Me and off-Broadway in Sistas the Musical.

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 at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London on July 15, 2013, starring Tony winner Cynthia Erivo. The new staging cuts approximately 30 minutes of material from the original incarnation and its producers include Oprah Winfrey.

Along with Erivo as Celie, the cast includes Jennifer Holliday as Shug Avery, Isaiah Johnson as Mister, Kyle Scatliffe as Harpo and Patrice Covington as Squeak.