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Chicago native relishes showy role in 'The Color Purple'

Chicago native Carla R. Stewart's involvement with the Tony Award-winning 2015 revival of "The Color Purple" has been quite an emotional and artistic journey.

Stewart made her Broadway debut in "The Color Purple" as an ensemble member and in the minor roles of Olivia and then a gossipy Church Lady. For the show's national tour that launched in 2017, Stewart was recast in the far showier featured role of bisexual honky-tonk singer Shug Avery - a role played on Broadway by Grammy Award-winning stars Jennifer Hudson, Heather Headley and Jennifer Holliday.

"The Color Purple" tour reaches Chicago near the end of its run for a two-week stint starting Tuesday, July 17, at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. And Stewart knows that expectations are high.

"Coming home, there's always added pressure because you're performing for your peers - the people who truly know you," Stewart said. "But there's also excitement. I have this moment to inspire those coming up after me."

Chicago native Carla R. Stewart stars as honky-tonk singer Shug Avery in the national tour of "The Color Purple," playing the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago from July 17-29. Courtesy of Matthew Murphy

"The Color Purple" had a successful Broadway premiere in 2005. But producers such as Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones made the effort to bring the show back thanks to Scottish director John Doyle's critically acclaimed 2013 London premiere production, which notably stripped back the material to the bare essentials.

Yet tragic personal circumstances almost prevented Stewart from auditioning for this "Color Purple" revival. At the time of New York casting, Stewart was in Chicago caring for her ailing mother. Creating an audition video and making travel arrangements were the furthest things from Stewart's mind.

"But my mom gave me the green light. She said, 'You've got to go and get it,'" said Stewart about the long audition process. "I made the video and they wanted to see me, but by then my mom had passed."

Stewart's agent at the time pressured her to reschedule the in-person audition dates, and the show's casting directors graciously obliged. Auditioning for and then rehearsing with Doyle, a Tony Award-winner for directing the 2005 Broadway revival of "Sweeney Todd," involved far more back-and-forth dialogue than Stewart had experienced before.

"He didn't assume that he knew. He invited us in and allowed us to talk and see if we were on the right track," said Stewart, highlighting how Doyle sought input from the cast to avoid stereotypes and to find the honesty for each moment of the show.

Shug Avery (Chicago native Carla R. Stewart), left, shares a moment with Celie (Adrianna Hicks) in the national tour of "The Color Purple." The re-imagined revival plays the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago. Courtesy of Matthew Murphy

"We made strides with that kind of communication and involvement," Stewart said. "It stretched me as a performer and I'm really grateful for it. I couldn't be more happy to have made my Broadway debut with such an iconic and American story."

Stewart treasures performing in "The Color Purple" and sharing its themes of empowerment, redemption and forgiveness that were all part of Alice Walker's original Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel.

Stewart said the onstage hugs she received from castmates such as Tony Award-winner Cynthia Erivo as Celie proved to be comforting following the loss of her mother.

"It was a godsend for me," Stewart said. "It was a time where I just didn't know what I was going to do, but that show surrounded me with so much love."

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"The Color Purple"

Location: Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago, (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com

Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (also July 22); 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday (also July 25); from July 17 to 29

Tickets: $24-$97; $159 premium seating

• • •

"Truth Be Told"

What: Carla R. Stewart's one-woman gospel music concert

Location: Lilydale Progressive Baptist Church, 10706 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago

Showtime: 7 p.m. Monday, July 23

Tickets: $15-$20; eventbrite.com

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