April 19, 2023 • 11 mins
The Color Purple
April 22- April 30, 2023
A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater
A teenage Celie is torn from her beloved sister and forced into an abusive marriage. Over the next forty years, while Celie encounters repression, despair, and heartbreak, she also discovers hope in a group of friends who inspire her to find her voice, discover her beauty and change her life.
April 22- April 30, 2023
A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater
A teenage Celie is torn from her beloved sister and forced into an abusive marriage. Over the next forty years, while Celie encounters repression, despair, and heartbreak, she also discovers hope in a group of friends who inspire her to find her voice, discover her beauty and change her life.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hey, it's Erica DeLong from Behindthe Curtain, and today we are sitting
down with Bree Jackson, who's starringin The Color Purple live at the Martin
mary At, a center for thePerforming Arts, starting April twenty second through
the thirtieth. And Bree, youjust arrived a few days ago. Yes,
we tried any food yet? Orno, no, no, I
haven't had any time. We startedrehearsals yesterday. Um, but we flew
in well, I flew in onSunday, so yeah, just time to
(00:23):
unpack and take it and get readyto get into work. All right.
So the Color Purple, if anybodydoesn't note, it's a very you know,
inspiring story. But tell us aboutthe Color Purple. It's the story
of Seely. It is a storyof a woman finding God. It's a
woman going through life trials and tribulationsand coming out at the end and loving
(00:46):
herself and in the end finding Godagain. Hey, I'm very interested in
the theological journey that she goes through, um, because the novel does start
the first words our dear God,um, and it's just a series of
letters to God from Seely and throughall of this she's questioning and finding her
(01:07):
relationship with God and all of thebeautiful people, the love and the hate
and the anger and the pain andeverything that comes with it, and how
at the end it all comes togetherand for her to find God and acceptance
and love. I love it.It's a beautiful So you telling it,
It's just like I got chills becauseyou are Seely and the show. You
(01:27):
know in the show, And what'syour history with the color purple? Um?
Well, I besides it being amovie that I grew up with,
I was a part of the Tonywinning revival that most recently played on Broadway
back in twenty fifteen. Um,and I understudied the role of Seely.
So I have played the role ofSeely on Broadway. Um. It's been
(01:51):
six years since I've done her.So. Um, but yes, I
have. I have a long history, if you will with it. Um.
Even beyond that, I have someonethat the local area might be familiar
with, Robert Hartwell. Um,he and I we were We attended college
together and at the time he assignedme the role of Seeley for a concert
(02:12):
that he put on historically at ourcollege. And um, he told me
I needed to learn the role becauseit was going to be important for me
and lo and behold here I amwhat a cool For a decade later,
once again, once again getting theopportunity to tell this story and play this
role. So yeah, and Robert, if you're out there, I love
you. So this is personal foryou. It's not just like I'm showing
(02:36):
up to do a job. Likethis is personal and there's a lot of
heart involved in this. Oh yeah, this is um, this is very
it is a very heartfelt thing.This is this is my second Broadway show.
It was my principal debut. Iworked with titans and legends of television,
film and music, and and Ilearned this show shifted both my career
(03:01):
but also my outtake on art.I credit a lot of um, a
lot of my changes in how myart changed with what I went through and
what I learned and what we experiencedand what we created with this show.
And so I'm very excited to createsomething new and to touch this material six
(03:24):
years later with a whole life anda Pandonimi behind me, right right.
Oh and so yeah, it ispersonal and no show for me is just
a job. But yeah, thisone it does hit a little different.
Now, how is it getting intocharacter. What has been the most difficult
part to prepare for the role?I think right now it's just the speed
(03:46):
in which we're switching over. Iwas just doing a completely different project,
so it is a very very quickshift of gears, if you will.
But so right now, I thinkit's really the speed. But and also
realizing the trauma that here and haveto go back through. Um. You
know, I haven't touched the materialreally in a six years. So m
(04:10):
rereading the novel and I was justlike, who Seely girl, who you'n
gone through some trauma? Alright,girl, We've don't gone through some things?
All right? I forgot here wego right. Um. But that's
why we have such a wonderful castand everything, because they have a support
and um, and it's not justmy story. I can't just tell it
by myself. And so I'm alsovery grateful that we have such a wonderful
(04:33):
cast and company to um tell thisstory because it is an ensemble piece.
It is the story of Seeley,but it is an ensemble piece and that
lives on from every production since thetwenty fifteen. If you don't have the
if you don't have everyone the storyisn't told um, it's not just Seeley.
And you mentioned that you've met Oprahand we'll pie gold Work, which
(04:55):
we all know have played roles forthe color Purple, obviously big roles in
their lives and their ears. Howdid that impact you when you met both
of them? Well, I almostfell over and almost knocked over one of
my castmates when Oprah showed up,because you know, she made a grand
entrance and it was a surprise.We had no idea. We were just
(05:15):
singing the Color Purple and they releasedthe special. So if you look over
in the corner, you'll see alittle brown girl with red hair and braids,
almost knocking over two people because weturn and lights flood up into the
room and Oprah walks in looking like, you know, the heaven opus opened
up. The only thing we weremissing were like clouds coming through so and
it's like, where's it? Likegirl, So you know that that happened.
(05:41):
And meeting Whoopee, that was justa lifelong you know, I grew
up watching Whoopee. And it wasn'tjust her as Seeley, it was her
ghost, it was her voicing Shinzy. It's like I knew who whoopee Goldberg
was and to meet her and havethe opportunity to just have her pour into
(06:03):
us, um, that was special. Um. You know, she's somebody
that I've been told I look likeand to have an egot and someone who
has achieved so much as a darkskinned woman who you know, one of
(06:25):
her major career points was called uglyand people are just not realizing, Like
Na, she has never been ugly. It was an honor um and it
was not lost upon me that Ihad that privilege, not once but twice.
So yeah, yeah, She's alwaysbeen somebody that just really poured like
life lessons you get from her whenyou meet her, even for a split
(06:46):
second, it's just like wow,pearls. She literally is just somebody that's
somebody that you if she speaks,you better turn around and listen. R
write it down, like straight uplisten because she's giving pearls. Con Stanley.
Um, So yeah, for somebodythat's listening right now, what would
they gain from this is a mussyshow while it's here in Raleih April twenty
(07:08):
second through the thirtieth at the maryAt a Center of Performing Arts, But
what will they gain when they cometo the show and what will they take
away? Um, I think theywill take away a lot of heart.
Yeah, Um, get ready togo through some things because it's a it's
a journey and um, and we'regonna invite you to come along with us.
Um, So it's gonna you're gonnafeel some heart. Um. I
(07:31):
think you're gonna take away a differentunderstanding of love. I think you're gonna
take away a different understanding of forgiveness. And I think there's going to be
a different understanding of God if wedo our jobs right. Yeah, which
I think we're going to. Well, I don't know. Just in he
you're talking to you, I'm like, oh, I have to be at
this show because I can feel theheart. We're in studio with Bree Jackson.
(07:53):
An. This show is specifically herefor this area. You come in.
It's an eight day thing. Youdon't know your teammates. What is
it like getting a show together thatquickly? Um, Well, it's it's
about safety, it's about trust,um. But it's also it's a really
great opportunity for um, for meto stretch the muscles of acting, because
hey, you gotta get it andget it together and quickly. Um.
(08:16):
It builds a very good Um youbuild a lot of safety within your cast
because you don't have time and tolanguish and build super long relationships. It's
now we gotta get intense right now. Um. You know today we're filming.
We're filming, We're doing Act one, You're doing it's everything. Yeah,
you know, we're doing Act onetoday and that includes you know,
(08:37):
a lot of trauma and things.And so we have to start there with
the basis of I trust you andhere's what we're about to do. And
and you're coming from a busy life, you got things going on, and
you come in for this show.So you like you were full throttle when
you go into this when you startthis production. Quite literally, it was
unpack on Sunday, Monday morning,go to the grocery store and unpack them
(09:00):
and get ready to go to rehearsal. I love it. Yeah, and
we have Christine here too. You'rewith NCY Theater. What makes NC Theater
so much different than others in thearea. So NCT brings in our own
casting. We go all over thecountry to cast for whatever production are producing.
(09:20):
Artistic director has put together for theseason, Eric Woodall and so he
travels and he brings in wonderful talentlike like Breed Jackson and Nicole Henry and
Frenchie Davis who are also a partof our cast and right so they meet
here in Raleigh for eight days torehearse and we put on the show.
(09:41):
We get everybody in costume, weget the sets done. All of our
production team is here in Raleigh,but also maybe pieces they might be in
other places like La in Atlanta.So everybody comes together in Raleigh for a
unique production of The Color Purple.So this is a one time opportunity for
(10:03):
people to see these actors in thisrole in Raleigh. What a special gym
to to have right here in theTriangle, which we call it the Triangle
because there's so many different counties,but Raleigh is kind of like the meeting
spot of everything. So it makesit really special to have something like this
at the NC Theater. Absolutely absolutely. Our NCT has been around for forty
years, so we have our fortiethanniversary coming up next next season. And
(10:28):
so the Color Purple is just oneof those beautiful stories that we had to
incorporate this season. So we're veryexcited to have Bree here and We're thankful
to have you, Bree. Allright, So we got a few people
in studio. What does she haveto try while she's here for a few
days in North Carolina? Mary Leeis a native of North Carolina. Barbecue,
so you gotta try the barbecue.She wants steak. She's a big
(10:50):
fan of steak. There's Sullivan's rightdown the streets. Angus Barn is a
big staple, so as Okay,I think I saw that it's the big
barn near the airport. Yeah.I think Bennie's is a good one too.
Yes, yeah, so you saidhere a foodie. See, you
gotta eat while you're here, gotit? We gotta feed you right all
right? Cool? All right,So nctheater dot com get those tickets April
(11:11):
twenty second through the thirtieth. It'sa one time deal. You gotta get
those tickets as cheapest thirty five dollars, so there's no excuse for you to
go. Bree. You're amazing,like I could feel your heart when we
were speaking, so very excited tosee the show. Thank you so much
and looking forward to you all comingout. Make sure you grab those tickets.
The color purple at the Mariatta Centerof the Performing Arts in Raleigh,
April twenty second through the thirtieth.Get those tickets today nctheater dot com.
(11:35):
That is nctheater dot com.
Hey, it's Erica DeLong from Behindthe Curtain, and today we are sitting
down with Bree Jackson, who's starringin The Color Purple live at the Martin
mary At, a center for thePerforming Arts, starting April twenty second through
the thirtieth. And Bree, youjust arrived a few days ago. Yes,
we tried any food yet? Orno, no, no, I
haven't had any time. We startedrehearsals yesterday. Um, but we flew
in well, I flew in onSunday, so yeah, just time to
(00:23):
unpack and take it and get readyto get into work. All right.
So the Color Purple, if anybodydoesn't note, it's a very you know,
inspiring story. But tell us aboutthe Color Purple. It's the story
of Seely. It is a storyof a woman finding God. It's a
woman going through life trials and tribulationsand coming out at the end and loving
(00:46):
herself and in the end finding Godagain. Hey, I'm very interested in
the theological journey that she goes through, um, because the novel does start
the first words our dear God,um, and it's just a series of
letters to God from Seely and throughall of this she's questioning and finding her
(01:07):
relationship with God and all of thebeautiful people, the love and the hate
and the anger and the pain andeverything that comes with it, and how
at the end it all comes togetherand for her to find God and acceptance
and love. I love it.It's a beautiful So you telling it,
It's just like I got chills becauseyou are Seely and the show. You
(01:27):
know in the show, And what'syour history with the color purple? Um?
Well, I besides it being amovie that I grew up with,
I was a part of the Tonywinning revival that most recently played on Broadway
back in twenty fifteen. Um,and I understudied the role of Seely.
So I have played the role ofSeely on Broadway. Um. It's been
(01:51):
six years since I've done her.So. Um, but yes, I
have. I have a long history, if you will with it. Um.
Even beyond that, I have someonethat the local area might be familiar
with, Robert Hartwell. Um,he and I we were We attended college
together and at the time he assignedme the role of Seeley for a concert
(02:12):
that he put on historically at ourcollege. And um, he told me
I needed to learn the role becauseit was going to be important for me
and lo and behold here I amwhat a cool For a decade later,
once again, once again getting theopportunity to tell this story and play this
role. So yeah, and Robert, if you're out there, I love
you. So this is personal foryou. It's not just like I'm showing
(02:36):
up to do a job. Likethis is personal and there's a lot of
heart involved in this. Oh yeah, this is um, this is very
it is a very heartfelt thing.This is this is my second Broadway show.
It was my principal debut. Iworked with titans and legends of television,
film and music, and and Ilearned this show shifted both my career
(03:01):
but also my outtake on art.I credit a lot of um, a
lot of my changes in how myart changed with what I went through and
what I learned and what we experiencedand what we created with this show.
And so I'm very excited to createsomething new and to touch this material six
(03:24):
years later with a whole life anda Pandonimi behind me, right right.
Oh and so yeah, it ispersonal and no show for me is just
a job. But yeah, thisone it does hit a little different.
Now, how is it getting intocharacter. What has been the most difficult
part to prepare for the role?I think right now it's just the speed
(03:46):
in which we're switching over. Iwas just doing a completely different project,
so it is a very very quickshift of gears, if you will.
But so right now, I thinkit's really the speed. But and also
realizing the trauma that here and haveto go back through. Um. You
know, I haven't touched the materialreally in a six years. So m
(04:10):
rereading the novel and I was justlike, who Seely girl, who you'n
gone through some trauma? Alright,girl, We've don't gone through some things?
All right? I forgot here wego right. Um. But that's
why we have such a wonderful castand everything, because they have a support
and um, and it's not justmy story. I can't just tell it
by myself. And so I'm alsovery grateful that we have such a wonderful
(04:33):
cast and company to um tell thisstory because it is an ensemble piece.
It is the story of Seeley,but it is an ensemble piece and that
lives on from every production since thetwenty fifteen. If you don't have the
if you don't have everyone the storyisn't told um, it's not just Seeley.
And you mentioned that you've met Oprahand we'll pie gold Work, which
(04:55):
we all know have played roles forthe color Purple, obviously big roles in
their lives and their ears. Howdid that impact you when you met both
of them? Well, I almostfell over and almost knocked over one of
my castmates when Oprah showed up,because you know, she made a grand
entrance and it was a surprise.We had no idea. We were just
(05:15):
singing the Color Purple and they releasedthe special. So if you look over
in the corner, you'll see alittle brown girl with red hair and braids,
almost knocking over two people because weturn and lights flood up into the
room and Oprah walks in looking like, you know, the heaven opus opened
up. The only thing we weremissing were like clouds coming through so and
it's like, where's it? Likegirl, So you know that that happened.
(05:41):
And meeting Whoopee, that was justa lifelong you know, I grew
up watching Whoopee. And it wasn'tjust her as Seeley, it was her
ghost, it was her voicing Shinzy. It's like I knew who whoopee Goldberg
was and to meet her and havethe opportunity to just have her pour into
(06:03):
us, um, that was special. Um. You know, she's somebody
that I've been told I look likeand to have an egot and someone who
has achieved so much as a darkskinned woman who you know, one of
(06:25):
her major career points was called uglyand people are just not realizing, Like
Na, she has never been ugly. It was an honor um and it
was not lost upon me that Ihad that privilege, not once but twice.
So yeah, yeah, She's alwaysbeen somebody that just really poured like
life lessons you get from her whenyou meet her, even for a split
(06:46):
second, it's just like wow,pearls. She literally is just somebody that's
somebody that you if she speaks,you better turn around and listen. R
write it down, like straight uplisten because she's giving pearls. Con Stanley.
Um, So yeah, for somebodythat's listening right now, what would
they gain from this is a mussyshow while it's here in Raleih April twenty
(07:08):
second through the thirtieth at the maryAt a Center of Performing Arts, But
what will they gain when they cometo the show and what will they take
away? Um, I think theywill take away a lot of heart.
Yeah, Um, get ready togo through some things because it's a it's
a journey and um, and we'regonna invite you to come along with us.
Um, So it's gonna you're gonnafeel some heart. Um. I
(07:31):
think you're gonna take away a differentunderstanding of love. I think you're gonna
take away a different understanding of forgiveness. And I think there's going to be
a different understanding of God if wedo our jobs right. Yeah, which
I think we're going to. Well, I don't know. Just in he
you're talking to you, I'm like, oh, I have to be at
this show because I can feel theheart. We're in studio with Bree Jackson.
(07:53):
An. This show is specifically herefor this area. You come in.
It's an eight day thing. Youdon't know your teammates. What is
it like getting a show together thatquickly? Um, Well, it's it's
about safety, it's about trust,um. But it's also it's a really
great opportunity for um, for meto stretch the muscles of acting, because
hey, you gotta get it andget it together and quickly. Um.
(08:16):
It builds a very good Um youbuild a lot of safety within your cast
because you don't have time and tolanguish and build super long relationships. It's
now we gotta get intense right now. Um. You know today we're filming.
We're filming, We're doing Act one, You're doing it's everything. Yeah,
you know, we're doing Act onetoday and that includes you know,
(08:37):
a lot of trauma and things.And so we have to start there with
the basis of I trust you andhere's what we're about to do. And
and you're coming from a busy life, you got things going on, and
you come in for this show.So you like you were full throttle when
you go into this when you startthis production. Quite literally, it was
unpack on Sunday, Monday morning,go to the grocery store and unpack them
(09:00):
and get ready to go to rehearsal. I love it. Yeah, and
we have Christine here too. You'rewith NCY Theater. What makes NC Theater
so much different than others in thearea. So NCT brings in our own
casting. We go all over thecountry to cast for whatever production are producing.
(09:20):
Artistic director has put together for theseason, Eric Woodall and so he
travels and he brings in wonderful talentlike like Breed Jackson and Nicole Henry and
Frenchie Davis who are also a partof our cast and right so they meet
here in Raleigh for eight days torehearse and we put on the show.
(09:41):
We get everybody in costume, weget the sets done. All of our
production team is here in Raleigh,but also maybe pieces they might be in
other places like La in Atlanta.So everybody comes together in Raleigh for a
unique production of The Color Purple.So this is a one time opportunity for
(10:03):
people to see these actors in thisrole in Raleigh. What a special gym
to to have right here in theTriangle, which we call it the Triangle
because there's so many different counties,but Raleigh is kind of like the meeting
spot of everything. So it makesit really special to have something like this
at the NC Theater. Absolutely absolutely. Our NCT has been around for forty
years, so we have our fortiethanniversary coming up next next season. And
(10:28):
so the Color Purple is just oneof those beautiful stories that we had to
incorporate this season. So we're veryexcited to have Bree here and We're thankful
to have you, Bree. Allright, So we got a few people
in studio. What does she haveto try while she's here for a few
days in North Carolina? Mary Leeis a native of North Carolina. Barbecue,
so you gotta try the barbecue.She wants steak. She's a big
(10:50):
fan of steak. There's Sullivan's rightdown the streets. Angus Barn is a
big staple, so as Okay,I think I saw that it's the big
barn near the airport. Yeah.I think Bennie's is a good one too.
Yes, yeah, so you saidhere a foodie. See, you
gotta eat while you're here, gotit? We gotta feed you right all
right? Cool? All right,So nctheater dot com get those tickets April
(11:11):
twenty second through the thirtieth. It'sa one time deal. You gotta get
those tickets as cheapest thirty five dollars, so there's no excuse for you to
go. Bree. You're amazing,like I could feel your heart when we
were speaking, so very excited tosee the show. Thank you so much
and looking forward to you all comingout. Make sure you grab those tickets.
The color purple at the Mariatta Centerof the Performing Arts in Raleigh,
April twenty second through the thirtieth.Get those tickets today nctheater dot com.
(11:35):
That is nctheater dot com.
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