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'COLOR' IS COMING TO LOS ANGELES: Jeanette Bayardelle stars in touring ‘The Color Purple’
The production is still taking Broadway by storm while the touring company headed out to bring "Color" to Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Arizona, and Ohio. EUR’s Lee Bailey caught up with the touring star Jeanette Bayardelle (pronounced by-uh-del) who plays the lead role of Celie with the touring company.
“I’m part of the original company,” Bayardelle confirmed. She was the understudy for LaChanza, who originated the role on Broadway. “Fantasia took over for me. And now I’m here on the road.” “We were in Chicago for eight months. Then we were in San Francisco for two months.”
2004’s “American Idol” champ Fantasia is holding down the role of Celie in New York, while Bayardelle pals around with another “AI” finalist from that season, Latoya London.
“It’s an awesome cast,” she said of London and the other castmates. The touring company includes Tony-nominated and original Broadway castmember Felicia Fields as Sophia – the role Winfrey made famous in the film, Rufus Bonds as Mister, and Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child as Shug Avery.
Though Bayardelle has the support of a great cast, she admitted that the role has some challenges.
“The challenge would be going from the age of 14 to over about 60 years old,” she said. “That’s really emotionally challenging. But, I have to say that even though Celie is abused and downtrodden, and people say she’s ugly, it’s very rewarding because at the end, she believes that she’s beautiful – no that she was told. She believes that she can prevail and do anything that God has for her to do.”
In addition, she describes the role as “very demanding,” even though she’s trained in musical theater and quite the professional.
“Before this, I was doing musical theater. I have a gospel CD out called ‘Praise Report’. I am a gospel artist. I went to the High School of Performing arts in Manhattan,” she said.
Nevertheless, Bayardelle gives her performance her all, even losing herself in the character.
“Once I put that wig on, it changes. When I’m Celie, I do feel like Celie. My accent changes,” said the New York native. “We have that scene where she spits in the water. I’m supposed to pretend to spit in the water, but sometimes I’m so into character that he just gets all of my ‘juices’.”
For those who like the book (and the movie, for that matter), Bayardelle said that audiences wont’ be disappointed. She said that the musical gives fans the opportunity to delve more into the characters, especially Celie, but pointed out that the play’s story follows the novel closer than the film.
“A good thing about the musical is that you get to a chance to see Celie’s sense of humor. So even though she’s beaten and people call her ugly, she’s really a funny. She has a great sense of humor, and in the end you get to see her glory,” she said.” Come and support ‘The Color Purple.’ You get to hear great tunes.”
“The Color Purple” plays the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles through March 9. For more on the play, the tour, and ticket information, visit the website at www.thecolorpurple.com.
'The Color Purple' LA info
* Where: Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles
* When: Previews end Dec. 15.
Regular performances Dec. 16 through March 9. 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. No performance Dec. 25, Jan. 1. No evening performances Feb. 3, March 9. Added performances Dec. 27, Jan. 31 and March 6 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. March 5 performance is at 10:30 a.m.
* How much: $20-$100
* Tickets: 213-628-2772
* Online: www.centertheatregroup.org
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