Shows I've Seen | Theatre Reviews

@showsiveseen "The Color Purple" #musical at Village Theatre starring @Mariah Lyttle. Strong cast and voices. The church lady gossips (@Melany, @Kataka, & Crystal Hairston) were the highlight of the show! Closes next weekend.  #Review: showsiveseen.com/13329 Production Clips: Nyhuis Creative Director: Timothy McCuen Piggee Stage Mgr: Miranda Mikolaizik Conductor: Tim Symons Choreo: @Nikki Womac #theatre #musicaltheatre #thecolorpurple ♬ Miss Celie's Pants – Original Broadway Cast Of The Color Purple

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): The Color Purple at Village Theatre starring Mariah Lyttle. Strong cast and voices. The church lady gossips (Melany Bell, Kataka J. Mackenzie, & Crystal Hairston) were the highlight of the show!

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? No, I’ve seen the national tour twice

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Probably not. Three times already might be enough for me!

Mainstream Appeal: Medium

If A Random Stranger Asked What Show They Should See This Weekend, Would I Mention This Production? Yes

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Life dealt Celie a harsh hand in intersectionality. She’s Black (in the Deep South), female, ugly, queer, and poor. Despite these compounded barriers, her journey illustrates resilience, self-discovery, empowerment, and reclaiming one’s agency. Against all odds, she finds her own voice in a world determined to silence her. Beauty is found in unexpected places.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: A testament to the healing power of love. With a soul-raising, Grammy Award-winning score infused with jazz, gospel, ragtime and the blues, The Color Purple is a triumphant musical adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker (later turned into films directed by Stephen Spielberg and Blitz Bazawule). In the early 1900s in rural Georgia, a teenage Celie is ripped from her life and forced into an abusive marriage. Despite the anguishing circumstances she endures, she comes to discover her voice, find herself, and celebrate life. This stirring and inspiring show explodes with music, beauty, and hope. Director Timothy Piggee’s (Hello, Dolly!) soaring new production of The Color Purple promises to fill your heart and awaken your soul.

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Predominantly dynamic, though austere. The understated scenic design by Carey Wong provided an open canvas that highlighted the performers’ skills, free from the distraction of flashy visuals.

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you’d probably appreciate this show more if you read the book. I haven’t read the book and I remember that the story was difficult to follow the first time I saw the musical more than 10 years ago.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Union Actors: 9

Total Actors: 17

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? Yes

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Other Rave(s)

• Church Ladies: The narrating gossips stole the show with their tight harmonies, facial expressions, and poses with attitude. Kataka J. Mackenzie’s powerhouse vocals were reminiscent of Mercedes from the Glee TV show, delivering each belt with flair and conviction.
• Gospel Music: I don’t remember either of the two national tours I saw delivering a Sunday church service quite like this one. Again, the church ladies brought it. However, it was weird to witness such a spirited, high-energy Sunday church service when I saw the musical on an otherwise sleepy Wednesday evening.
• Jahmaul Bakare: Jahmaul Bakare (as “Mister” Albert) skillfully shifted his voice between a rich operatic tenor and a smooth, R&B-like tone. He certainly showcased his impressive effortless vocal range.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

• Pantheism: Every time I see The Color Purple, the show’s overtly pantheistic themes are increasingly apparent. In “The Color Purple” song, Celie declares, “God is inside me and everyone else” which underscores the spiritual worldview where the divine is immanent in all things. I can’t think of another mainstream show that glaringly embraces pantheism. It always strikes me as strange. But I guess the theme is perfect for “woo woo” Seattle. I wonder if pantheism is as pervasive in the original book. If you’ve read the book, let me know what your thoughts in my social media comments!

Theatre Company: Village Theatre

Venue: Village Theatre

Venue Physical Address:

• Village Theatre’s Francis J. Gaudette Theatre: 303 Front Street North, Issaquah, WA 98027
• Everett Performing Arts Center: 2710 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, WA 98201

Price Range: $75-128

Ticket Affordability Options: See the theatre’s official page about discounts and pay-what-you-can performances

Dates:

• Issaquah: May 27 – June 29, 2025
• Everett: July 5—27, 2025

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking:

• Issaquah: Free street parking and certain free parking lots. Lot parking availability is very difficult to find though. I’ve basically given up on that. I usually end up parking on Rainier Boulevard North. As a last resort, you can always find parking at the library but it’s a little far. Remember, there’s a bottom floor parking lot under the library’s main parking lot that mostly only locals know about.
• Everett: Free street parking and some paid parking lots/garages.

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Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

• https://villagetheatre.org/see-a-show/purple/
• Program

Pictures: See production pictures below by Auston James.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.