Arts Garage, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing visual and performing arts experiences to Delray Beach and South Florida, presents the stirring theatrical production of “The Color Purple: The Musical,” on June 9 at 7 p.m., featuring Palm Beach County students between the ages of 15 and 17.
The young thespians are set to perform the 2015 musical revival of “The Color Purple,” based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker and its 1985 film adaptation by Steven Spielberg.
Directed by Julius Wynn Jr., an English teacher at Atlantic Community High School and choir director at Payne Chapel AME in West Palm Beach, “The Color Purple: The Musical” follows the inspirational Celie as she navigates joy, despair, anguish, resilience and hope to discover the power of love and the importance of finding one’s voice.
Staging “The Color Purple: The Musical” is a natural fit for Arts Garage. The nonprofit’s vision — “connecting our community to the world through arts” — drives its decision-making, intentionally choosing plays that integrate cultural diversity into its narratives.
According to Arts Garage President and CEO Marjorie Waldo, the musical “opens the conversation to important themes of the play including poverty, race and faith, as well as the sensitive topics related to abuse, while navigating hardships and triumphs.”
Regarding the students’ involvement in the play, Waldo says, “Studies find that participation in the arts during the teen years relates to greater community and school leadership involvement, better attendance and higher academic achievement, higher self-esteem and a better sense of meaning or purpose in their lives.
“The students have put a lot of dedication into this performance, and we know that you will be able to sense their passion for the arts while watching from the audience.”
Waldo expects the audience to “leave this performance with a deeper understanding of the themes explored in this culturally relevant story and a greater sense of empathy, understanding, and encouragement.
“Our hope is that the audience as well as the students performing will feel a sense of growth, both personally and creatively through their attendance and involvement in this production,” she says.
Arts Garage is located at 94 N.E. 2nd Ave., Delray Beach.
For tickets and more information, visit artsgarage.org.