The Color Purple Oprah Winfrey becomes the sole presenting producer.

Oprah Winfrey will join the The Color Purple as the sole, above the title, presenting producer. The new musical opens at the Broadway Theatre on the 1 Dec 2005, following previews from the 1 Nov.

Oprah Winfrey joins the current producers of The Color Purple, Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Quincy Jones, Creative Battery, Anna Fantaci & Cheryl Lachowicz, Independent Presenters Network, Lowy Family Group, Stephanie McClelland, Gary Winnick, Jan Kallish, The Nederlander Organization, Andrew Asnes & Adam Zotovich, and Todd Johnson.

Ms. Winfrey comes to the project with a well-known connection to this story. She made her movie debut and was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Sofia in the 1985 feature film version of The Color Purple, which received 11 Academy Awards nominations and was directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by Quincy Jones.

It was reported in the New York Times that Ms Winfrey has provided $1 million of the shows $10 million investment. It will no doubt be hoped that Ms Winfred's involvement will help publicise the show and lead to healthy - in advance - box office takings when theatre goers see the words "presented by Oprah Winfrey" on the shows publicity.

The Color Purple has long been a part of my life, from the first time I read it over 20 years ago until now, I've always wanted as many people as possible to experience this story" said Ms. Winfrey. "To present this Broadway production is a dream come true and a full circle moment for me."

Scott Sanders, the lead producer of The Color Purple stated, "Oprah joining the team is the ultimate acknowledgement of the power of this story. Our mission has always been to serve the story and its characters, delivering a great show that both entertains and is true to the beloved source material. Oprah personifies quality and integrity. She comes with a personal connection to this piece and has already brought us an amazing level of enthusiasm, support and ideas. Her coming on board as a seven-figure investor as well as the presenting producer is a great opportunity for both TThe Color Purple and everyone in the theater to reach a broader audience. We are ecstatic."

Based on Alice Walker's classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and the landmark film by Steven Spielberg, The Color Purple is an inspiring and unforgettable story of a woman, who, through love, finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world. With a moving book and a score featuring gospel, jazz, ragtime and the blues.

The Color Purple has a cast of thirty-four and stars LaChanze as Celie, Elisabeth Withers as Shug, Felicia P. Fields as Sofia, Ren�e Elise Goldsberry as Nettie, Kingsley Leggs as Mister, Brandon Victor Dixon as Harpo and Krisha Marcano as Squeak.

Directed by Gary Griffin, The Color Purple features a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning composer/lyricists Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray with choreography by Donald Byrd.

The production features scenic design by Tony Award winner John Lee Beatty, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Tony Award winner Brian MacDevitt and sound design by Jon Weston. The orchestrations are by Jonathan Tunick, Kevin Stites is the Music Supervisor and Linda Twine is the Musical Director. The Color Purple made its world premiere at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in the fall of 2004.