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ABC/Craig SjodinJennifer Hudson will leave The Color Purple on May 8 and will be replaced by Tony Award winner Heather Headley.
Hudson made the announcement on Twitter, writing, “These past six months have been nothing short of a dream come true.” She added, “I have found an extended family in The Color Purple that will go far beyond my commitment on stage.”
The Grammy and Academy Award winner made her Broadway debut in the role of Shug Avery when The Color Purple returned to Broadway on December 10, 2015. The original production ran from 2005-2008, and featured Fantasia in 2007and 2008. The revival is expected to receive several Tony Awards nominations, which will be announced May 3, just five days before Hudson’s final performance.
Headley, who won the 2000 Tony as Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Aida, will begin in The Color Purple on May 10. In addition to continuing on Broadway for one more month, Hudson stars with Kerry Washington in the TV movie Confirmation which debuts April 16 on HBO.
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