'Color Purple' star talks about the musical, touring, Oprah and Obama

By PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer | Tuesday, November 25, 2008 10:17 AM PST ∞

When the national tour of the musical "The Color Purple" arrives in San Diego next week, it will have one the show's original Broadway stars in its cast.

Felicia P. Fields, who earned a Tony nomination for her portrayal of Sofia in the 2006 Broadway production, has been with the touring company since its starting point early last year in her native Chicago. This past weekend, the show had a six-day run in Costa Mesa, and next Tuesday it opens a six-day run at the San Diego Civic Theatre.

"The Color Purple" musical, directed by Gary Griffin, is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1983 novel by Alice Walker. Set in rural Georgia in the 1930s, it tells the story of a group of poor black women struggling against racism and sexism both from within their community and from outside.

The musical ---- with a book by Marsha Norman and score by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray ---- was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, as well as a Grammy. The story's central character is Celie, a homely, uneducated seamstress who faces great suffering in her life as she loses her family, endures years of abuse from her husband, and slowly learns to love both herself and others through a relationship with her husband's mistress, the sexy nightclub singer Shug Avery.

One of Celie's role models is the character of Sofia, a proud, large black woman who walks out on her abusive husband, Harpo, then stands up to the city's racist white mayor when he slaps her (a crime for which she is severely beaten and thrown in prison).

Fields talked about the role of Sofia as well as a few of her fellow Chicagoans ---- Oprah Winfrey (who played Sofia in the film version of "The Color Purple" and co-produced the musical) and President-elect Barack Obama ---- in a telephone interview last week from Costa Mesa.

Tell me how the role of Sofia came to you.

I have a long relationship with director Gary Griffin, and he was directing me in a production of "Carousel" back in 2003. I had on this costume and saw myself in the mirror and thought to myself, 'My Lord, I look like Oprah in 'The Color Purple,' so I walked up to Gary and said (a line from the film) "You told Harpo to beat me." And he told me, 'If I ever direct a musical version of 'The Color Purple,' I already have my Sofia.' I think it was six weeks later he called me and said: 'You're not going to believe this ... "

How did the musical develop? It started as a workshop in Chicago with all Chicago actors, and then it went to New York for another workshop and then Atlanta where it had its first run. Then we took it to Broadway.

You go way back with Gary Griffin. He has cast you in several nontraditional roles for a black actress, such as Dolly Levi (in "Hello, Dolly) and Bloody Mary (in "South Pacific"). What's your relationship like?

I call him my husband. He's really done a whole lot to mold me into an actor. He saw in me what I didn't see in myself. He's an actor's dream.

How do you see the character of Sofia and how do you play her?

I am Sofia. I'm a no-nonsense individual, just like she is, so it's natural for me. It's just so relaxed to be in her shoes. When I play her, I can believe I am this woman, and you won't see me acting onstage.

How is the musical different from the book or the film?

Well, it has music (laughs). A lot of the dialogue in the book has become the song lyrics. They've done a beautiful job musicalizing the words and the emotions and the stories from the book. It's very powerful.

You have two big numbers in the show ---- the defiant woman's anthem "Hell, No!" and the playful duet with Harpo, "Any Little Thing." What's your favorite?

I enjoy "Any Little Thing," it's fun. But beyond a shadow of a doubt, I'm passionate about singing "Hell, No!" That song has such a heavy message for people, especially women, that they don't have to accept abuse and they can stand up for themselves.

How was the Broadway experience different from the road?

It's hard on the road. On Broadway, people were coming to the show for the experience of seeing "The Color Purple." They knew what it was and they were invested in it. On the road, you're getting audiences who are coming because they're season ticketholders or they're on a board that bought the tickets, and they're not as exuberant about the experience. But no matter where we are, by the end of the night, everybody seems to be delighted to have attended.

What was it like taking on a role played onscreen by Oprah and then meeting her as a producer?

Oprah came to a run-through early on and everybody was so excited. We were jumping up and down. But then it hit me. I was the only person there who was doing her role. I was terrified. But when I did my first song, she jumped to her feet and she was so encouraging and that was, like, whew, a big relief.

As long as we're talking about your fellow Chicagoans, what do you think about Obama's election as president?

Like many African-Americans, I didn't think I'd ever live to see this day. I'm excited for the world that is excited for him. He's a very unique person to be able to connect with everyone in a world where there are divisions, and to not be white and not be black but to embrace all nationalities. He did an amazing thing, and I'm in awesome wonder at it.

What would you most like people to know about "The Color Purple" musical?

I want people to know that it's a show ---- like Obama ---- that's not restricted to African-Americans. It's a story told from the perspective of African-Americans, but it addresses many issues of human nature and things that happen in everybody's life. I don't care if you're black, white, Asian, whatever ---- this is a universal story and it has a resilient ending, and something in it is going to hit you.

"The Color Purple"

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4; 8 p.m. Dec. 5; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 6; 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 7

Where: San Diego Civic Theatre, Third Avenue at B Street, San Diego

Tickets: $18-$79

Phone: (619) 570-1100

Web: www.broadwaysd.com