Purlie Victorious

Purlie Victorious on Broadway Background

“Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch” marks the return of Leslie Odom Jr. to Broadway since his departure from Hamilton in 2016. This is Odom’s first Broadway role since his Tony Award-winning turn as Aaron Burr in “Hamilton.”

1961 Revamped Comedy Originally Written By Ossie Davis

This show will mark the first revival of the comedy by Ossie Davis, since 1961.
The Broadway show was later made into the 1963 film Gone Are the Days!

The 1961 Original Show Was Booted From Its Theatre By The Shubert Organization

The show originally played at the Cort Theatre (Sep 28, 1961 - Nov 18, 1961), but was unceremoniously booted out its theatre by Charles Flateman. The show then played at the Longacre Theatre (Nov 20, 1961 - May 13, 1962), where it was allowed finish off its run, without further interference from The Shubert Organization.

Show Was Made Into An Off-Broadway Musical in 1970

The original play is the basis for the 1970 musical version of the show “Purlie" that ran off-Broadway.

2023 Production Heads Into The Music Box Theatre

The 2023 production heads into the Music Box Theatre. Both the Longacre theatre and the Cort Theatre, nearly 62 years since its debut on Broadway, are still unavailable for this show.

What’s Purlie Victorious Like?

The show is a satire set in the Old South, with the title-character Purlie, a preacher, hoping to run an integrated church but is faced with a bigoted plantation owner.

Big Bethel Church Needs Saving

Dynamic traveling preacher Purlie Victorious Judson returns to his small Georgia town hoping to save Big Bethel, the community's church, and emancipate the cotton pickers who work on oppressive Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee's plantation.

Prying Loose The Inheritance

With the assistance of Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins, Purlie hopes to pry loose from Cotchipee an inheritance due his long-lost cousin and use the money to achieve his goals. Fortunately, Cotchipee's son Charlie proves to be far more fair-minded than his brutal father, saving the church from destruction with a brave act of defiance.

Is Purlie Victorious Good for Kids?

The show has depictions of slavery and associated abuse and is suitable for children over the age of 16 years old