Make a Joyful Noise! Nathaniel Stampley & Carrie Compere Begin Performances in The Color Purple

Must be somethin' to fuss about! Nathaniel Stampley and Carrie Compere start performances in The Color Purple as Mister and Sofia, respectively, beginning on November 15. Both Isaiah Johnson and Danielle Brooks departed the Tony-winning revival on November 13.

Both Stampley and Compere have roots in Purple. Stampley appeared in the ensemble of the 2005 production and understudied the role of Harpo. He has also performed on Broadway in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and The Lion King. Compere has been performing as one of the original Church Ladies in the John Doyle-helmed 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.

In addition to Stampley and Compere, the current cast includes Tony winner Cynthia Erivo as Celie, Jennifer Holliday as Shug Avery, Kyle Scatliffe as Harpo, Jennie Harney as Nettie and Patrice Covington as Squeak. The production is scheduled to close on January 8, 2017.