Smith, Ivory, Butler & Devine Join Cast of B'way-Bound Purlie

Jacques C. Smith, Paulette Ivory, E. Faye Butler and Loretta Devine will star in the Broadway-bound revival of Purlie at the Pasadena Playhouse. The show, directed by Sheldon Epps, is scheduled to begin performances at the California venue on June 24.

Smith, who will star in the title role, appeared in Blue at the Pasadena Playhouse. His other theatrical credits include the Broadway production of Rent and regional mountings of Antigone, Before It Hits Home, School for Wives, The Green Bird and The Meeting. He also notably played Leroy Tidd a.k.a. Salah Udid in the series Oz.

Ivory starred in the national tour of Aida. Her other theatrical credits include The Lion King, Smokey Joe's Café, The Hot Mikado, West Side Story, Buddy and A Woman of No Importance. In Purlie, she will portray the innocent Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins.

Butler, who will play Idella Landy in Purlie, appeared on Broadway in Blues and off-Broadway in Nunsense. Other theatrical credits include Mamma Mia!, Ain't Misbehavin', Dinah Was, Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope, Polk County, Crumbs From The Table Of Joy, Gospel According To Fishman, Christmas Carol, Comfortable Shoes, Could It Be Magic, Ruthless, Showboat and Little Shop of Horrors.

Devine, who will play Missy Judson, is best known to theater fans for playing Lorrell Robinson in the original Broadway company of Dreamgirls. Her other Broadway credits include Hair, Comin' Uptown and Big Deal. Her off-Broadway credits include A Broadway Musical, The Colored Museum and East Texas Hot Links. Devine has also found success on the small and big screens. She was a series regular on Boston Public and can currently be seen on Lifetime's Wild Card. Last year she earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her performance in the film Women Thou Art Loosed.

In addition to those listed above, the cast will also feature Billy Gill, Lyle Kanouse and Harrison White. Sean Blake, Meloney Collins, Rachel Montez Collins, Ronnie Duncan, Derric Harris, Edwin Henry, Danielle Alvergia Hobbs, Sara Beth Lane, Rocklin Thompson, Timothy Ware, Lisa Nichole Wilkerson and Byron Glenn Willis will all be included in the ensemble.

Purlie features music by Gary Geld, lyrics Peter Udell and a book by Udell, Ossie Davis and Philip Rose. Based on Davis' 1961 play, Purlie Victorious, the musical version tells the story of Cap'n Cothcipee Kanhouse, who owned everyone in town where slavery and racism were rife. A young idealistic preacher named Purlie Victorious Smith decides to bring freedom to the townsfolk by inventing an elaborate, ingenious and hilarious scheme to reclaim the people's rights.