I’ve seen the original #thecolorpurple with my mother Belinda Varnado when I was a kid (38 years ago). It was during the holidays then also in 1985. I’ll never forget it. I went to see the off broadway play starring Fantasia in ATL with my friend Rico(RIP). I was wowed by it. Then getting to see the Broadway musical with my baby Shawn Fungaling(it was both our first “ON”Broadway musical) with #JenniferHolliday & #cynthiarrivo . What was even better my friend Antoine L. Smith was also in the musical as “Grady”. He introduced me to meet Cynthia and #DanielleBrooks. I even got to put my FEET on a Broadway stage where many legends have walked on. So to watch this adaptation of something I grew up on for 38 years with my bff Fredya Payne and listen to Sophia tell Celie “THANK YOU for being there for me when nobody else was” hearing Shug tell her “she see her, she is beautiful” Listening to the words of the song “What about Love?” To see the love she has for her kids and her sister when she sees them again. Then a song that I love “The Color Purple” perfect ending. I grew up on this movie. Being an adult now and seeing a as ll the variations of it. It really has so much more to it. I see some of myself, friends and others stories in it. It’s a story of LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, HOPE, TRIUMPH. #thecolorpurple2023 #thecolorpurplemusical