Photo Coverage: Los Angeles Opening Night of 'Color Purple'

The Color Purple opened at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre December 16th, bringing the National Tour to Los Angeles for the holiday season, running through March 9, 2008.

Directed by Gary Griffin, The Color Purple is "a soul-stirring new musical based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the film by Steven Spielberg, set in Georgia during the years 1909 through 1949 and tells the unforgettable and inspiring story of a woman named Celie, who through love and the strength to overcome adversity, finds her unique voice in the world," according to press notes.

The National Touring production stars Jeannette Bayardelle, Felicia P. Fields, LaToya London, Michelle Williams, Rufus Bonds, Jr., Stu James and Stephanie James.

Turning out for the Los Angeles premiere were Bookwriter Marsha Norman, Producers Quincy Jones and Scott Sanders, Composers Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Sephen Bray, along with a handful of excited celebs including Vanessa Williams, Loretta Devine and Regina King.

Tickets for The Color Purple can be purchased by calling Center Theatre Group Audience Services at (213) 628-2772, in person at the Center Theatre Group box office or on-line at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org. The Ahmanson Theatre is located at 135 N. Grand Avenue in Los Angeles.

Photos by ©Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging.

After Party

Jeannette Bayardelle, Michelle Williams and Felicia P. Fields

Michelle Williams, LaToya London and Felicia P. Fields

Michelle Williams

Jeannette Bayardelle, Margaret Avery (who plays Shug Avery in the film) and Michelle Williams

Jeannette Bayardelle, Margaret Avery and Felicia P. Fields

Rufus Bonds, Jr. and Producer Quincy Jones

Rufus Bonds, Jr. and Stu James

Margaret Avery and Michelle Williams

Producer Scott Sanders and Jeannette Bayardelle

Vanessa Williams

George Takei and Stu James

Stu James and Felicia P. Fields

LaToya London

George C. Wolfe

George Takei

Henry Simmons

Arrivals

Kenny Lattimore and Chante Moore

CTG Board Member Richard Kagan and wife Julie Hagerty

Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon

Loretta Devine

Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon and Loretta Devine

Margaret Avery

Margaret Avery and Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon

Music and lyrics by Stephen Bray, Brenda Russell and Allee Willis

Bobby Valentino

Henry Simmons

Kimberly Elise

Vanessa Williams and daughter Sasha

Musician Trenyce

Curtain Call

Michelle Williams and Rufus Bonds, Jr.

Jeannette Bayardelle

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James Sims is the Senior Editor at BroadwayWorld.com. Beyond his duties on this website, James also contributes as a featured blogger for the Huffington Post.

Having grown up in Los Angeles, California, James spent time working as an entertainment reporter on the west coast before heading to New York City to attend Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. For more information, visit SofaSnark.com and follow James on Twitter at @SimsJames.

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