HOUSTON – Houston is a bustling city filled with unique gems, and one of those gems is the local theater scene promoting diversity, inclusivity, and the interconnectedness of working together to create a successful production.
Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Color Purple,” the timeless story has been adapted into a widely acclaimed film directed by Stephen Spielberg and a popular musical. This August, two local theater companies, The Garden Theatre and Sankofa Collective (formerly known as Bayou Theatre Company), join forces to bring the iconic “The Color Purple” musical to life on stage.
The Garden Theatre is fairly new to the theater scene, but already creating an impact with about four years of production.
Whereas the Sankofa Collective is celebrating its tenth anniversary of winning multiple awards from BroadwayWorld and providing a safe creative space for Black & other marginalized people to share their stories.
This co-production represents more than just another theatrical performance. It underscores the power of unity within diverse communities coming together through artistry while providing much-needed representation on stage. According to Logan Vaden, Founding Artistic Director of The Garden Theatre, this unique collaboration was “very, very serendipitous. It’s just these two companies coming together, creating incredible art. It’s the largest cast that either of our companies ever had. And it’s just magical. I mean that rehearsal room is magic.”
“The Color Purple” is not just a musical; it’s an emotional journey that celebrates hope, love, and resilience. Fusing jazz, ragtime, gospel music, African rhythms, and blues into its scores, this production promises to be an unforgettable experience.
The leading actress bringing this timeless tale to life is April Wheat. She will portray Celie, the protagonist whose journey from abuse to independence is seen throughout the 35-year arc. Wheat is no stranger to theater. She graduated from the University of Houston in 2008 with a master’s in vocal performance and performed on stages at MATCH and Ensemble Theater.
On “Houston Life,” Wheat gave a sneak peek of one of her performances before the opening day. Watch the video above for the full interview and performance.
You can also see Wheat perform as she takes center stage August 2 - 4 at MATCH (Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston). Tickets start at $25. Click here for tickets.