By William H. Kelly III
(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Color Purple The Musical is at Jackson State University (JSU) on Oct. 26-30 in the Rose E. McCoy Auditorium. Presented by JSU’s Department of Speech and Theatre and MADDRAMA Performance Troupe, the production is set to tackle themes of love, healing, and faith.
“I am so excited to bring this production to the Jackson State University community because this musical is all about community. I believe any artistic expression should reflect the strength of the community in which it is being presented,” said Mark G. Henderson, Ph.D., assistant professor of speech and director of JSU’s production of The Color Purple.
Henderson said the musical is for intergenerational and multicultural audiences. “I see it as a time for us to see the beauty in each other as human beings rather than racial beings. It is my hope that this play will not only increase our community’s support of the arts at Jackson State but also give them a sense of pride in that this production is ‘for us, about us, performed by us presented near us, but it speaks to all of us’, as referenced in the words of August Wilson.”
The Color Purple is told through the eyes of the main protagonist, Celie and her diary entries and letters from her sister Nettie. Celie lives in a world of racism, sexism and abuse in deep southern Americas. As seen on Broadway, the play follows the script, adapted from Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel with a unique approach that emphasizes the play’s musicality. This allows for an opportunity to immerse audiences in the story through song.
The production brings together JSU students and staff, local and national recording artists, and Catia Madison, who placed in the top five in the 2023 state fair American Idol auditions. It further assembles the community, by bringing together soloists and members from the Mississippi Mass Choir and the JSU African Drum and Dance Ensemble. Meredith Hairston, project director for JSU’s TheSipp.FM, will star as the popular Shug Avery.
“I am very grateful for this amazing opportunity to star in this iconic production. To be trusted with a role this big is a huge responsibility, but I believe that it will prepare me for my future as a singer and actress,” said Madison, who is a senior at Jim Hill High School and will play the role of Celie. “I am going to give it everything I got to assure that I am worthy of what God has blessed me to do.”
Each night, viewers can expect a featured theme to further create a welcoming space for family, friends, and loved ones. Themes include high school day, Divine Nine night, which invites members of the National Pan Hellenic Council (NPHC), JSU alumni and college night, and the purple passion-themed show for local churches, to name a few.
Yolanda Williams, assistant professor and theater coordinator, serves as the costume designer and production manager for the show. Chandler Carter, a junior speech communications major, is the assistant director for the production.
Show times are 7:30 pm on Oct. 26-28 and Oct. 30, and 3:00 pm on Oct. 29. General admission tickets can be purchased here. Senior, student, and tickets for groups of 10 or more must be purchased in person at the Rose E. McCoy Auditorium on the JSU campus.
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