Purlie Tickets

Purlie Tickets

If you're looking for Purlie tickets, you're planning for a gospel-infused musical comedy rooted in Ossie Davis's civil-rights-era satire Purlie Victorious. First seen on Broadway in 1970, Purlie combines soul, rhythm-and-blues, revival-meeting energy, and high-spirited musical theatre storytelling in a show that earned Tony Awards for original stars Cleavon Little and Melba Moore.

This page covers everything you need — from what the show is and what to expect, to finding the right seats and buying with complete confidence.

Show Information

Purlie opened on March 15, 1970, at the Broadway Theatre in New York City. The musical is based on Ossie Davis's 1961 play Purlie Victorious, with a book by Ossie Davis, Philip Rose, and Peter Udell, lyrics by Peter Udell, and music by Gary Geld. The original Broadway production was directed by Philip Rose and choreographed by Louis Johnson.

The show is a musical comedy with a gospel-driven score that channels the spirit of a Southern revival meeting while using soul, rhythm-and-blues, and traditional musical theatre structure. Its original Broadway run lasted approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes including one intermission. Purlie is closed on Broadway, but it remains licensed for regional, stock, and amateur productions.

The original production ran for 688 performances, moving from the Broadway Theatre to the Winter Garden Theatre and later the ANTA Theatre. It received multiple Tony nominations, including Best Musical, and won the 1970 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for Cleavon Little and Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Melba Moore. The musical was revived on Broadway in 1972, and a televised production aired as part of the “Broadway on Showtime” series in 1982.

If you're searching for Purlie tickets or want to check the current Purlie show schedule, Box Office Ticket Sales carries inventory across available performance dates.

Story Summary

Set in the Jim Crow–era rural South, Purlie follows Purlie Victorious Judson, a fast-talking and idealistic traveling preacher who returns to his Georgia hometown with a plan. He wants to reclaim an inheritance and buy back Big Bell, the church where he hopes to preach freedom, dignity, and empowerment to his community.

To achieve that goal, Purlie must outwit Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee, a tyrannical and bigoted plantation owner. His plan depends in part on Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins, a naive and warm-hearted young woman he recruits into his scheme. Around them are Charlie Cotchipee, the Cap'n's conscience-stricken son, and Purlie's relatives Missy and Gitlow Judson, who work the plantation.

The story blends satire, faith, comedy, and social purpose, using wit and music to confront racial injustice while celebrating perseverance and community spirit. The musical stands fully on its own; no prior familiarity with Ossie Davis's play Purlie Victorious is needed to enjoy it, and its themes of freedom, dignity, and hope land across generations.

Story Highlights

The score is central to the power of Purlie, with songs that bring gospel fervor, comic timing, and soaring vocal energy to the stage.

• "Walk Him Up the Stairs" — This uplifting, gospel-charged opening and recurring anthem frames the show with the fervor of a revival service. It sets the tone for a musical that moves with spiritual urgency and communal energy.
• "Purlie" — Lutiebelle's tribute to the title character is a lush romantic ballad and one of the show's standout emotional moments. The song gives the character a tender vocal showcase while deepening her connection to Purlie.
• "I Got Love" — Melba Moore's explosive showstopper became one of the defining moments of the original Broadway production. Her breakout performance in the role of Lutiebelle helped earn her the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
• "New-Fangled Preacher Man" — This rousing number captures Purlie's mission and his modern vision of faith and freedom. It highlights the character's charisma, idealism, and gift for stirring a crowd.
• "The World Is Comin' to a Start" — The jubilant finale celebrates a new era of dignity and possibility. It brings the show's gospel-infused optimism to a hopeful close.
• "Skinnin' a Cat" — This spirited comic number showcases the musical's satirical edge. It adds lively humor while reinforcing the show's fast-moving theatrical style.

Other Theater Shows You Might Like

If Purlie is your kind of show, the following productions tend to appeal to the same audience — musicals with strong storytelling, historically rooted themes, soulful music, and vibrant ensemble energy.

• Shenandoah Tickets
• Raisin Tickets
• The Wiz Tickets
• Ain't Misbehavin' Tickets
• Dreamgirls Tickets
• Caroline, or Change Tickets
• The Color Purple Tickets
• Memphis Tickets
• Hairspray Tickets
• Ragtime Tickets

How Much Do Tickets to Purlie Cost?

Prices for Purlie tickets vary by seat location, performance date, venue, and the specific production being staged.

Purlie ticket prices vary based on venue, city, seat location, date, and performance time. Premium orchestra and front sections are in high demand, while rear and upper-level sections offer excellent value.

Ticket prices can shift based on weekend versus weeknight performances, stronger local demand, and how much inventory remains for a specific date. Buying earlier usually gives you the best selection across orchestra, mezzanine, and balcony sections, especially if you want seats together or have a particular performance date in mind.

No hidden fees. At Box Office Ticket Sales, the price you see is the price you pay. All fees are shown before checkout — no surprise charges when you reach the final step.

How to Buy Purlie Tickets

Getting your Purlie tickets through BoxOfficeTicketSales.com is fast and straightforward. Here's how the process works:

• Browse Purlie productions — Search for Purlie tickets and select the production, city, and date that work for your schedule
• Pick your seats — Use the interactive seating map to compare sections, rows, views, and real-time pricing side by side
• Secure checkout — Pay with a credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Affirm for flexible payment options
• Receive your tickets — Digital tickets are delivered to your email or mobile wallet before the show, ready to scan at the theater entrance

Every order is backed by our 100% verified ticket guarantee and on-time delivery promise. Once your order is confirmed, you'll receive an email with your invoice and everything you need before curtain time.

Purlie Seating Guide

Purlie is performed in theater venues through regional, stock, and amateur productions, so seating layouts may vary by location. Where you sit shapes how close you feel to the gospel-driven score, ensemble movement, character comedy, and spoken dialogue.

Best Seats for Purlie

The best seats for Purlie balance vocal clarity, stage picture, and proximity to the performers.

• Best value: Upper mezzanine or rear orchestra sections often provide strong sightlines at a lower price than premium front orchestra seating. These sections work well for taking in the full staging, ensemble numbers, and overall stage composition.
• Closest to the stage: Front orchestra sections place you nearest the performers, making the comic timing, facial expressions, and vocal power feel especially immediate.
• Best overall experience: Mid-orchestra and front mezzanine sections usually offer the strongest balance of closeness and perspective. Many theatergoers prefer these seats because they keep the full stage in view while preserving the energy of live performance.
• For families with young children: Aisle seats can make arrival, restroom breaks, and intermission movement easier. Because the show runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes including one intermission, families should choose seats that make the full evening comfortable.
• For groups: Coordinate contiguous seats early, since blocks in popular orchestra and mezzanine sections can sell through quickly for well-attended performances.

Purlie Seating Chart

You can view an interactive seating map for Purlie productions directly on BoxOfficeTicketSales.com while browsing available listings. The map lets you compare sections, check row depth and distance from the stage, and see real-time pricing for what's currently available — all before committing to a purchase.

Can I See Where My Seats Are?

Yes. The interactive seat map on BoxOfficeTicketSales.com shows your exact section and row placement before you buy. Use it to understand your angle to the stage, your distance from the front, and whether you're in the orchestra, mezzanine, or balcony — so the seats you choose match exactly what you're looking for before the curtain rises.

Getting Ready for Show Night

Once your tickets are confirmed, a little preparation makes the full experience run smoothly from arrival through the final bow.

• Download your tickets before you leave. Cell service around the theater can be congested on busy performance nights. Save your tickets to your phone's wallet or screenshot them before heading out so you're ready at the door without needing a signal.
• Charge your phone fully. Digital ticketing is standard at most theaters. A portable battery pack is worth having, especially if you're combining the show with dinner or other activities.
• Arrive at least 30 minutes before curtain. Theater doors open well before the show begins; arriving early gives you time to find your seats and settle in before the house lights go down — and avoids the disruption of late seating, which many theaters restrict.
• Plan for the intermission. Purlie runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes including one intermission, so use the act break to stretch, visit concessions, or stop by the restroom. Lines often build immediately after intermission begins.
• Know the venue's phone and photography policy. Audiences are asked not to record or photograph during the performance. Silence your phone before the show begins so the performance can continue without interruption.
• For families. Purlie includes satirical treatment of racism and life in the Jim Crow South. It is generally suitable for most audiences, with themes most fully appreciated by older children and adults.

Is Box Office Ticket Sales Legit?

Yes — Box Office Ticket Sales is a fully verified, secure ticketing platform that has served over 1 million customers since 2012. When you buy Purlie tickets through BoxOfficeTicketSales.com, here's what backs every purchase:

• 100% verified ticket listings — every listing is authenticated before it reaches you
• On-time delivery guarantee — your tickets arrive before the event, or we make it right
• All seats together unless explicitly noted otherwise in the listing
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Because Purlie is performed through regional, stock, and amateur productions, available dates and seating inventory can vary by venue. The best-value listings disappear first. If you have a specific date or city in mind, acting sooner gets you better seats at better prices. Browse Purlie tickets now and lock in your seats before inventory moves.

Need Help With Your Purlie Tickets?

Our support team is available before, during, and after your purchase. Reach us through any of these channels:

• Live chat: Log in to your account at BoxOfficeTicketSales.com to chat with an agent
• Email: customersupport@boxofficeticketsales.com
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