The Knockturnal was on the scene for The Color Purple Broadway cast soundtrack Listening Party on Thursday, February 11 at The W Hotel Times Square.
Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks, Kyle Scatliffe and the rest of the cast were in attendance to celebrate the show’s cast recording, which is currently available on Broadway Records. The event was presented by IndieFork, Kim Crawford and W Hotels. Guests enjoyed dumplings, guacamoles with chips and Salty Dog cocktails (Svekda Vodka and Grapefruit Juice), Rasp Bubbles cocktails (Svedka Raspberry, Club Soda and Simple Syrup), Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, and Kim Crawford Pinot Noir. The cast played many of the songs from the album and they thanked their director John Doyle.
We caught up with the CEO of Broadway Records Van Dean who produced the show’s cast recording.
What was it like working on The Color Purple (New Broadway Cast Recording)?
VD: It’s been an outstanding experience. It’s such a gorgeous show, that to be able to capture it and we try to capture it in a really intimate way so that it feels like you’re there. Everybody their performances , their acting, their singing is just so glorious is so heartfelt and passionate to be able to capture that forever is a true honor.
Speak about working with Jennifer Hudson.
VD: She’s like giving a master class in vocals. Watching her in her element is pretty incredible. It’s like being a witness to history.
Speak about working with Cynthia.
VD: Cynthia just gives one of the most heartfelt emotional true authentic performances I’ve ever seen. She captured it on the recording as well which is just magnificent.
What else are you working on?
VD: Well we just released Allegiance, we just recorded Fiddler on the Roof, we did Matilda, The Wiz Live!, Sideshow, The Visit, Dr. Zhivago among others.
Joseph Joubert is the orchestrator for The Color Purple.
How excited are you to celebrate the cast recording?
JJ: It is very exciting. These are my orchestrations and to see them come to life on this CD and the production is a dream come true, very exciting.
What was the process like?
JJ: You know because I was in the original production I was a pianist and associate conductor I did some arrangements for that, this was it was just a matter of the newness that we put into it the arrangements were slightly different, a shorter show and so the process was exciting because I had already been a part of it so it wasn’t like it was completely new to me. It was pretty seamless I think it sounds pretty good.
What else are you working on?
JJ: I’m working on Disaster right now. I’m the orchestrator for that and our first preview was two nights ago we open on March 8th so I’m excited for that.
What can fans expect from that show?
JJ: It’s gonna be hysterical, it’s very funny, it’s all disco music too. I think Seth Rudetsky was a genius in mixing the disco with the storyline, and it’s some really really funny moments. I’m hoping the audiences think it’s as funny as I do.
Cynthia Erivo attends the company listening party for the New Broadway Cast Recording of ‘The Color Purple’ at the W Hotel Times Square on February 11, 2016 in New York City.
Cynthia Erivo and Jennifer Hudson attends the company listening party for the New Broadway Cast Recording of ‘The Color Purple’ at the W Hotel Times Square on February 11, 2016 in New York City.
Kyle Scatliffe, Grasan Kingsberry and Danielle Brooks attend the company listening party for the New Broadway Cast Recording of ‘The Color Purple’ at the W Hotel Times Square on February 11, 2016 in New York City.
Carrie Compere, Rema Webb and Bre Jackson attend the company listening party for the New Broadway Cast Recording of ‘The Color Purple’ at the W Hotel Times Square on February 11, 2016 in New York City.
To get the soundtrack visit here:
http://www.broadwayrecords.com/cds/the-color-purple-2015-cd
To get your tickets to the show visit here: www.colorpurple.com
