Elisabeth Withers-Mendes to Depart The Color Purple on January 31

After a run of 27 months as sexy Shug Avery, 2006 Tony Award nominee Elisabeth Withers-Mendes will play her final regular performance in The Color Purple on Thursday, January 31. Understudy Angela Robinson will take on the part full-time on February 1.

For her Broadway debut in the show, Withers-Mendes was honored with nominations for the Tony Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award and the Broadway.com Audience Award in the category Favorite Breakthrough Performance. In 2007, she released her debut CD titled It Can Happen to Anyone on Blue Note Records and is currently working on a follow-up recording for the label.

Robinson, also a Color Purple company member since opening night, has appeared on Broadway in Wonderful Town, Bells Are Ringing and Play On!. Off-Broadway credits include Radiant Baby and Call the Children Home as well as City Center Encores! Productions of Golden Boy, Bye Bye Birdie and The Pajama Game.

The Color Purple currently stars Zonya Love as Celie, Chaka Khan as Sofia, Bebe Winans as Harpo, Alton Fitzgerald White as Mister, Montego Glover as Nettie and Krisha Marcano as Squeak. As previously anounced, The Color Purple closes on February 24.