Photo by Charles Smith
Jaiden Smith
News Editor
Catia Madison was a bright light as she led a star-studded cast in “The Color Purple: The Musical”.
The Jackson State University Department of Speech and Theatre in partnership with MADDRAMA Performance Troupe presented the performances from Oct. 26-30 providing a fun, theatrical, comical twist on the iconic movie/musical.
The play, directed by Mark G. Henderson, Ph.D., graced the stage of the Rose McCoy Auditorium to packed houses each night.
The book, written by Alice Walker, was the inspiration for this musical. The audience seemed to love the urban, sarcastic rendition of the play which left many in the room in either tears or drowning in laughter, depending on the scene.
The cast was a combination of Jackson State students and local Mississippi talents. With a play full of new and seasoned talent, it made for a perfect blend and a show that could be enjoyed by a broad audience – no matter the race, gender, or age.
The breakout star of the play was Madison, who wooed the crowd with her impeccable talent and sultry voice. Although an impressive actress, it was her singing that touched the hearts of every audience member.
What was even more astonishing is that the voice of Celie, which mesmerized the audience night after night, was coming from a Jim Hill High School senior.
“According to my mom, I started singing at the age of two,” Madison exclaimed. “I wanted to pursue a career in singing and acting because it’s always been a passion for me. Singing and acting is another way I express myself. When I don’t know what to say, I sing about it.”
Madison played Celie Harris, the protagonist of the original film. With “The Color Purple” being such an intricate film – detailing the life journey of a young, meek woman as she steps into her identity with the help of the stronger personalities that surround her, Madison did not shy away from taking on such a dynamic character.
“I dedicated a lot of my time into learning my role as Ceile for this play,” Madison explained. “I would even use the free time I had in class to work on learning the play. I had a lot of friends and family who played a big part in me learning this play and I thank them very much.”
Taking place in early 1900s Georgia, there’s heavy undertones of both physical and sexual abuse along with racial discrimination with an overarching theme of sisterhood. Celie is a complex character to bring to life, but Madison did just that.
“Playing the role of Celie meant a lot to me. Knowing that I had the honor of having that huge of a role was amazing. With all of this amazement I continued to stay humble. Every time I walked on the stage, I just knew my brother would be grinning from ear to ear looking down on me. Knowing that I was making him proud was everything.”
Madison said she prepared for the role by mostly focusing on the musical selections for the film.
“I started to learn the songs first, because the songs connected to what I would be talking about or a scene I would be acting out. Learning the songs was the easy part, which meant learning the lines would be even easier,” explained Madison.
The 17-year-old Terry, Miss. native said God allows her to remain humble as she shines with her talent.
“At the age of 17, it is just amazing to see my success but as life goes on and God continues to bless me, I am staying humble by any means necessary,” she said.
Markayla James, a junior biology/pre-medicine major from Detroit, Mich. and current member of MADDRAMA, helped with the production of the play.
James assisted by ushering guests to their seats and was a part of the stage crew. She’s never seen the original film “The Color Purple”, so she really enjoyed her time assisting with the execution of the play because it was her chance to become familiar with the film.
“I have never seen “The Color Purple” but this was an amazing way to get acquainted with the film. I attended all the shows and not only did I never get tired of watching it, but I also loved the feeling and overall quality of the play. I definitely will be watching the actual film soon to see how it was different from the play,” James said.
James also stated that the entire production was beautiful but one moment in the play stuck with her the most.
“Although I enjoyed the entire play, my favorite scene would have to be when Celie finds herself and realizes she doesn’t need Mista or Shug,” James said. “This scene really made me feel empowered as a young woman who is also finding herself throughout my journey at Jackson State University.”
Freshman Christian Brewer was also a part of the stage crew. Brewer is from Dallas, Texas and is currently majoring in journalism and media studies. He too has never seen the film.
“My feelings towards the film were definitely mind-blowing because of the singing, acting, and everything that came with it. If y’all didn’t go, y’all missed out on an amazing play for real,” said Brewer.
Brewer currently serves MADDRAMA as an aspirant and contributes his talent, time, dedication and support to his fellow members.
Aalaysia Sept, a sophomore psychology major from Baton Rouge, La., said she loved the film since childhood and Dr. Henderson’s version of the play only strengthened her admiration for the film.
“I believe this depiction of the play was wonderful,” she stated. “There were certain parts that just made you want to get on the stage and dance with them. Dr. Henderson had a vision and I believe it might have turned out way greater than it was already expected to be.”
Sept says the African dance portion was what really touched her heart.
“The dancers really brought it to life along with the drummers. All of the attire they had on was just so beautiful so you could never really get tired of seeing that scene,” Sept said.
The play was a beautiful adaptation of the movie. The musical selections moved the audience and really brought the emotions of the characters to life.
The cast had strong vocal and acting talent. Their theatrical facial expressions and exaggerated movements was just the flare the musical needed.
With a perfect blend of humor and grit, I believe this production will stick with audiences leaving them wanting to see more from the actors and Jackson State theatre productions.
