‘The Color Purple’ Broadway Actress Wants Royalties For Lyrics Used In New Film

Everyone has been raving about the performances in the new musical The Color Purple musical based on the classic novel/film written by Alice Walker. The film was released on Christmas Day and opened at No.1 at the box office.

Now the actress. LaChanze who played Miss Celie on Broadway is demanding royalties for her contributions to the original songs used in the production. LaChanze initially won a Tony for playing Celie on Broadway, with Barrino joining a wealth of other actresses who took on the part on stage following LaChanze’s departure from the production, also including Cynthia Erivo and Adrianna Hicks. Barrino eventually reprised the role in director Blitz Bazawule’s big-screen adaptation of the musical, which also welcomed supporting actress Danielle Brooks back to The Color Purple family in the role of Sofia, which she first portrayed in the 2015 Broadway revival.

LaChanze wrote on Twitter:

I am getting a lot of DM’s and posts about why I’ve been left out of the press as the original Celie in the

@TheColorPurple (musical). I am thrilled for the movie’s success! Happy for all involved. However, I do want my royalty fee for the lyrics I added to “I’M HERE”.

I am getting a lot of DM’s and posts about why I’ve been left out of the press as the original Celie in the @TheColorPurple (musical). I am thrilled for the movie’s success! Happy for all involved. However, I do want my royalty fee for the lyrics I added to “I’M HERE”.

— LaChanze (@laChanze) December 26, 2023