Interview with Corey Mitchell, director for The Color Purple
TC: Describe The Color Purple in 3 words or less.
CM: Show about love.
TC: Welcome back! What shows have you been involved in at Theatre Charlotte recently?
CM: Most recently, I directed The Prom for the teen summer show in 2023. My roots with TC go back almost 25 years, when I performed in my first show in Charlotte as Hysterium in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
TC: Is there a particular character, scene, or song that you are most excited to see come to life?
CM: It would have to be the opening of Act II, Africa Homeland. Everything in that scene is intricate and exquisite. The music, the dance, the costumes, and Nettie's letters blend together to immerse Celie into a very different life from her own.
TC: What should audiences know about this show?
CM: The show is NOT the movie, so for people familiar, "God is Trying to Tell You Something" is not in the musical!! Otherwise, you are in for a beautiful story about perseverance and fortitude.
TC: Anything else you’d like to share?
CM: I am excited to be collaborating with two amazing black women, Charlene Thomas (music director) and Stacy Zander (choreographer), who will bring even more dimension to this production. Additionally, you can view the documentary about my first experience with The Color Purple, titled Purple Dreams, on PBS in September.
TC: Other than this one, what show are you most looking forward to in Season 98?
CM: It may sound like a copout, but I am excited for the entire season for different reasons. But I am most excited about Murder, because I have loved Agatha Christie, and detective fiction, in general, since I was nine years old, reading the Encyclopedia Brown series. I’m also excited for Over the River and Through the Woods.