"The Color Purple" returns to Atlanta

Elaine Barnwell and her friends have memorized lines from "The Color Purple" and toss them out like confetti on appropriate occasions.

Barnwell, who lives in Mableton, has seen the film about 30 times and the play at least twice.

"I love everything about "The Color Purple," said Barnwell, a lead sales associate at the U.S. Postal Service. "I love the realness. The language. The strength of these women. I understand Celie. I was Celie when I was younger. Now I'm more like Sofia and I love it."

"The Color Purple" was first a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, then film and later highly-acclaimed  Broadway musical. This week, the touring musical  makes what is billed as its final run in Atlanta at the Fox Theatre for seven performances. The play stars one-time Atlanta resident Taprena Augustine as Shug Avery, Dayna Jarae Dantzler as Celie; Pam Trotter as the strong-willed Sofia; and Edward C. Smith as Mister.

Event preview:  Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. Shows are 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday; and 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets range from $25 to $75. www.foxtheatre.org and www.ticketmaster.com.

Are you a big "Color Purple" fan or a newbie? Here's a primer about the play, the book and the film:

• "The Color Purple" was written by Georgia-born Alice Walker. It tells the moving story of Celie, who is 14 when the book opens. Celie was raped at an early age and abused by most of the men in her life, particularly her husband, Mister, played in the film by actor Danny Glover. The story is also about the restorative power of love. It chronicles the growth of Celie's as well as the other women, who all play central roles. The book received the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.
• "The Color Purple" received criticism by some for the way men were portrayed, although the film even more so. It also raised eyebrows for a romantic scene between Celie and Shug.
• The book was made into a film directed by Steven Spielberg . It starred Whoopi Goldberg as Celie and Oprah Winfrey as Sofia.
• "The Color Purple" musical made its world premiere at the Alliance in 2004 and went to Broadway in 2005. It was nominated for 11 Tonys.
• The musical version featured Fantasia Barrino, of American Idol fame. "The Color Purple" was adapted for the stage by Marsha Norman with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Aliee Willis and Stephen Bray.
• Oh, Those Lines: No one can call herself a true fan unless they can recite a few lines from "The Color Purple." Here's are some of our favorites: