Film, Television & Stage
The Color Purple (2023), adapted from The Color Purple by Alice Walker and the Broadway musical “The Color Purple”
“A woman faces many hardships in her life, but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.”
Starring Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Colman Domingo
Directed by Blitz Bazawule
Nominated for Golden Globes for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy (Fantasia Barrino), Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture (Danielle Brooks), and for Critics Choice Awards for Best Picture, Best Acting Ensemble, Best Costume Design, Best Supporting Actress (Danielle Brooks), and Best Hair & Makeup
Nomadland (2020), adapted from Nomadland by Jessica Bruder
“A woman in her sixties, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.”
Starring Frances McDormand
Directed by Chloé Zhao
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Actress (Frances McDormand), and Best Director (Chloé Zhao) and Nominee for Best Adapted Screenplay (Chloé Zhao), Best Achivement in Film Editing (Chloé Zhao), and Best Achievement in Cinematography (Joshua James Richards)
Winner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture and Best Director (Chloé Zhao)
I Don’t Know How She Does It (2011), adapted from I Don’t Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson
“A comedy centered on the life of Kate Reddy, a finance executive who is the breadwinner for her husband and two kids.”
Starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Christina Hendricks, and Olivia Munn
Directed by Douglas McGrath
The Romantics (2010), adapted from The Romantics by Galt Niederhoffer
“Seven close friends reunite for the wedding of two of their friends. Problems arise because the bride and the maid of honor have had a long rivalry over the groom.”
Starring Katie Holmes, Anna Paquin, and Josh Duhamel
Directed and Written by Galt Niederhoffer
Flash of Genius (2008), adapted from the article The Flash of Genius by John Seabrook
“Robert Kearns takes on the Detroit automakers who he claims stole his idea for the intermittent windshield wiper.”
Starring Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham, Alan Alda
Directed by Marc Abraham
Winner of Best Actor Award (Greg Kinnear) at the Boston Film Festival (2008)
Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005), adapted from Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
“A drama set in the 1920s, where free-spirited Janie Crawford's search for happiness leads her through several different marriages, challenging the morals of her small town.”
Starring Halle Berry
Directed by Darnell Martin
Produced by Oprah Winfrey
Nominated for Golden Globes for TV Movie/Mini Lead Actress (Halle Berry), Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie (Halle Berry)
Charms for the Easy Life (2002), adapted from Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons
“The story of three women who live in a North Carolina town and defy the traditional roles set forth for them by society.”
Starring Gena Rowlands, Mimi Rogers, and Susan May Pratt
Directed by Joan Micklin Silver
Ellen Foster (1997), adapted from Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
“After her mother's death, a young girl is separated from her abusive father and is sent between her various friends and relatives, always longing to find a place to call home.”
Starring Jena Malone and Julie Harris
Directed by John Erman
Winner of Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (Julie Harris)
Apollo 13 (1995), adapted from Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13 by author Jeffrey Kluger and astronaut Jim Lovell
“NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy.”
Starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, and Ed Harris
Directed by Ron Howard
Academy Award Winner for Best Sound and Best Film Editing and Nominee for Best Picture, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published, and more
Golden Globe Nominee for Best Motion Picture-Drama and Best Director (Ron Howard)
How to Make an American Quilt (1995), adapted from How to Make an American Quilt by Whitney Otto
“Bride-to-be Finn Dodd hears tales of romance and sorrow from her elders as they construct a quilt.”
Starring Winona Rider, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Kate Nelligan, Alfre Woodard, and Maya Angelou
Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse
Produced by Steven Spielberg’s production company Amblin Entertainment
Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Cast by the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture by the NAACP Image Awards (Maya Angelou and Alfre Woodard)
The Color Purple (1985), adapted from The Color Purple by Alice Walker
“A Black Southern woman struggles to find her identity after suffering abuse from her father and others over four decades.”
Starring Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, and Margaret Avery
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Nominated for eleven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Whoopi Goldberg), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Oprah Winfrey and Margaret Avery), and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Menno Meyjes)
Winner of the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (Whoopi Goldberg)
The Color Purple (premiered 2004), Broadway Musical, adapted from The Color Purple by Alice Walker
“Based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker and its 1985 film adaptation, the show follows the journey of Celie, an African-American woman in the American South from the early to mid-20th century.”
Book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray
Directed by Gary Griffin
Produced by Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, and Quincy Jones
Winner of the 2016 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, the 2016 Drama League Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album
Nominated for eleven Tony Award nominations in 2006
Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts with the New York Philharmonic (1958-1972), which was the basis for the book Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts
“Composer Leonard Bernstein hosts an exploration of musical masterpieces and their components.”
Starring Leonard Bernstein (host)
Directed by Roger Englander
Winner of five and nominee for eight Primetime Emmy Awards over the course of the show