At The Milwaukee Rep
BOOK BY Marsha Norman
DIRECTED BY Mark Clements
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray
A magnificent Grammy-nominated musical saga.
Following the success of last year’s Ragtime, Mark Clements and his creative team reunite to bring you the hit musical based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. This glorious musical saga, spanning four decades, tells the unforgettable story of a woman who finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her own unique voice in the world. With a joyous Grammy-nominated score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, and blues, The Color Purple captures the hearts of young and old, and reminds us that “it only takes a grain of love to make a mighty tree.”
"Inspirational" – The New York Times "Soaring & Joyful"– Time Magazine
The Milwaukee Rep’s The Color Purple webpage http://www.milwaukeerep.com/Tickets/2014-15-Season/The-Color-Purple/ currently provides a wealth of production information. Tap buttons:
Artists: Cast and Creative Team background information
Multimedia:
1. Audio: Learn about the decision to stage The Color Purple from Artistic Director, Mark Clements
2. Video: The Color Purple Broadway cast performs at the Tony Awards.
3. Video: Alice Walker discusses the impact of her novel.
4. Video: The Color Purple: Behind-the-Scenes on Broadway
The Milwaukee Rep’s production of The Color Purple (The Musical about Love) opens September 23. The running time is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Please note that we have excellent theater seating in middle sections 3 and 4 facing center stage.
Two buses have been scheduled to meet the anticipated huge demand. (Ragtime drew 104 PLATO members and guests last year.) Depending upon your bus boarding location, our daytrip will begin about 8:45 AM and end around 6:45 PM.
Registration Limit: 110
Non-Member Policy: Non-members may registration for PLATO bus trips only as a guest of a PLATO member. Each PLATO member is entitled to bring one non-member guest per bus trip. Non-member guests pay an additional $15.00 registration fee. (PLATO Member Rate: $60.00/year. Membership forms are available on the bus.)
Accessibility Policy: Milwaukee Rep’s Powerhouse Theatre is handicapped accessible. Our seats will be in the orchestra section where each row is a step down with handrail support. On the Badger Bus, you must be able to climb steps to board and exit the bus. If you need assistance, we recommend that you bring a friend to give you a hand.
Rep In-Depth – an optional, but highly recommended, lively and informative 30 minute pre-talk which starts 45 minutes before every performance in the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater and runs from 12:45 PM to 1:15 PM. It is free and you can drop in any time during the course of the talk. This popular series is sure to enhance your theater-going experience with background information about the play you are about to see. Come and join us and all of the other audience members who enjoy this free educational event! (Use Mezzanine Level entrance to the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater)
Free Time from 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM in which to Enjoy Lunch and to Explore
Lunch Options
Option 1 – will be attractive to those who enjoy lunch on their own and want free time to explore. There are two bus drop-off locations from which to begin.
Bus Drop A: On Broadway behind the Milwaukee Public Market. There are many nearby Third Ward restaurants from which to choose, including the Milwaukee Public Market that contains eight distinctive eateries. For those choosing Bus Drop A who want to attend the Rep In-Depth pre-talk, our bus will return to pick you up at 12:30 PM and get you to the theater in time for its 12:45 start. Note: if want to spend more time in the Third Ward, the Milwaukee Rep is a short walk north on Water St. (5 blocks or 0.4 mile) and is located on NW corner of Water and Wells Streets. Our play begins at 1:30 PM.
Bus Drop B: On Wells Street in front of the Milwaukee Rep entrance. There are many downtown restaurants located within walking distance from the theater, including those across the river and along the Riverwalk. Since you will be so close to the Rep, you will have time for lunch and the 12:45 pm Rep In-Depth pre-talk, or for exploring downtown a bit longer before the performance begins at 1:30 PM.
Option 2 – will be appealing to those who want to more time to fully explore the play rather than the neighborhood. The bus stop is on Wells Street in front of the Milwaukee Rep entrance. The Rep Speaker Matinee Lunch is served buffet style from 11:30 AM to 12:45 PM in the adjoining Intercontinental Hotel. A member of the Rep’s creative team will discuss a particular feature of the production. The luncheon buffet consists of soup du jour, mixed green salad, seasonal fruit, assorted finger sandwiches (egg salad, ham & cheese, tuna salad + 1 chef’s choice), warm rolls, and assorted cookies and bars. Beverages include regular and decaf coffee and assorted teas. Cash bar is available. Cost is $15.00 and pre-registration is required.
From the Rep Speaker Luncheon to Attend Rep In-Depth. It is a leisurely short walk back to the rotunda. Take the elevator to the Mezzanine, or walk up the two short flights of stairs of the white marble staircase to the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater Mezzanine Level Entrance. The Rep In-Depth pre-talk begins at 12:45 PM.
Itinerary
Please bear in mind that our PLATO boarding bus route is like Madison Metro or any other municipal bus service. You want to arrive early at your boarding stop, so you don't miss the bus. When everyone is aboard and in their seat, we leave. If everyone does that, we will all arrive in Milwaukee on time to begin our adventure.
- Please wait until bus organizers are aboard and ready to check you in, before boarding.
- Don’t be late. We can wait just 5 minutes at any one location.
- Pack along water bottles and snacks for sustenance on the 1.5-2.0 hour journey to & from Madison
- Note: All itinerary times are approximate
8:45 AM Bus 1 arrives at Oakwood Village University Woods to begin boarding.
9:15 AM Bus 1 departs Oakwood Village University Woods for Milwaukee (Or, sooner if everyone is aboard)
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8:45 AM Bus 2 arrives at Capitol Lakes for loading.
9:15 AM Bus 2 arrives at East Towne Shopko for loading.
9:30 AM Bus 2 departs East Towne Shopko for Milwaukee (Or, sooner if everyone is aboard)
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11:00 AM Bus Drop A in Third Ward for Milwaukee Public Market and other nearby restaurants
11:15 AM Bus Drop B at Rep Theater entrance for Rep Speaker Luncheon and nearby restaurants
12:30 PM Return to Milwaukee Public Market to pick up those for Rep In-Depth
12:45 PM Rep In-Depth pre-talk begins. (Use Mezzanine Level entrance)
1:30 PM The Color Purple performance begins
4:00 PM The Color Purple performance ends
4:00 PM Begin bus boarding for return to Madison. There will be adequate time for coat check retrieval and restroom use
4:20 PM (EST) Depart for Madison (Or, sooner if everyone is aboard)
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6:20 PM (EST) Bus 2 returns to East Towne Shopko
6:45 PM (EST) Bus 2 returns to Capitol Lakes
6:45 PM (EST) Bus 1 returns to Oakwood Village University Woods
October 17 is the Registration Deadline.
If you cancel after October 17, there is no refund, but contact us, there may be a waiting list.
Register early to ensure your seat. There are two buses with a total of 110 seats available. Every registration that exceeds the 110 seat limit will be placed on a waiting list.
Bus Trip Organizer: Bob Blitzke, bblitzke@gmail.com or 608-271-7741.
