Tonys In Store For 'Color Purple'?

"The Color Purple" is one of this year's most critically acclaimed Broadway productions.

The hit show, produced by Oprah Winfrey, has 11 Tony nominations going into Sunday night's awards presentations, including one for Best Musical.

Two of its stars, LaChanze and Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, chatted with co-anchor Julie Chen on The Early Show Thursday.

LaChanze is nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, and Withers-Mendes for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical.

Withers-Mendes says she's more excited than nervous as Sunday approaches, and LaChanze admits nerves are holding sway among her emotions.

When Chen asked how Oprah is to work for, Withers-Mendes quickly answered, "Wonderful," and LaChanze agreed, adding, "So generous!"

"The Color Purple" is an inspiring family saga that tells the story of a young African-American girl named Celie, played by LaChanze, who finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discovers her unique voice. Celie is transformed as she discovers her self-worth, with the help of two powerful women.

How do LaChanze and Withers-Mendes feel doing such powerful material night after night?

"I think," Withers-Mendes told Chen, "it's a combination of being exhilarated as well as being a little exhausting, especially during the Tony time."

"That's an understatement!" LaChanze chimed in.

Her character starts out as a 14-year-old when she first appears and, by the end of the show, is 60.

"Yes, it's a journey," LaChanze said. "But it's one that I enjoy. Actually, the aging process is something that I'm the most proud of in working on this character, because she does start at a very young age, nowhere near mine, and ends up much further than mine. But still, the journey is just so much fun for me, as an actor."