Vive Les Arts: The Color Purple

So, on Friday my friend invited me to go see The Color Purple at the local community theatre and of course I accepted because who wouldn't?  
Where I grew up, the community theatre was pretty... erm... downtrodden?  I don't know the right word but it definitely wasn't a big fancy building on a prime piece of real estate with professional lighting and an orchestra pit.  I'm pretty sure the kids in the audience had to sit on the floor actually.  And the name had the word "Possum" in it.  Who wants to go there?  (Actually, I did.  I played a hag in the showing of The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe.  I was totally awesome.)  But I digress... that was Delaware so...
Quite on the other end of the spectrum lies Vive Les Arts - a community theatre that feels anything but.  They served complimentary wine before the show, first of all.  So, you know I'm hooked already. 
The Color Purple was a musical and I was a little skeptical, I have to admit.  I mean you just don't have all that many great singers running around these days, or at least it doesn't seem like it judging from American Idol auditions and such.
But I was 100%, completely WOWED.  First of all you should know that this was the first community theatre in the United States to be granted rights to produce The Color Purple.  So every few minutes you just remember that you are actually part of history right now.  Which is pretty neat.  And then the singing.  People, the singing!  The kid who played Harpo was amazing - I mean I couldn't take my eyes off him when he was on stage; he had that much star power.    Shug Avery and Celie were equally captivating, both in acting and singing.  The church ladies were hilarious and probably my favorite part of the whole production.   The music was fantastic - I didn't know until after the show had ended that it was a live orchestra and not a recording.   I haven't been to a whole lot of plays, I admit.  But the ones I have been to have generally left me feeling lukewarm at the end - a nice way to kill a couple of hours but not a crowning point in my life.  It wasn't like this with The Color Purple.  I left there feeling invigorated and proud to be a part of a community where so much hidden talent sizzles just beneath the surface.  Where are these people Monday through Friday, and why aren't they famous?!?   
Bravo Vive Les Arts!