What, after all, is “The Color Purple”?

It’s more than the title of the spectacular musical, through Aug. 4, The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (PSF), DeSales University.

The definition, or interpretation, of purple, the color, is up to you.

With the concluding “Amen,” sung in splendid chorus by the incredible cast of PSF’s “The Color Purple,” my sense is that the title speaks to God’s grace.

That grace is found, discovered and achieved by Celie (Jessica Johnson, in a remarkable performance among many remarkable performances in the PSF production) on a journey that takes her from abject poverty and trampled-down abuse to triumphant economic independence as a business entrepreneur. “The Color Purple” is aspirational, inspirational and an American success story.

The opening night July 19 performance was seen for this review.

“The Color Purple” musical is based on the novel by Alice Walker and the Warner Bros.-Amblin Entertainment movie of the same title. The musical’s book is by Marsha Norman with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.

Socio-economics are the foundation of the story. However, the play’s the thing, or in this case, the musical’s the thing, and PSF “The Color Purple” director Amina Robinson has assembled a cast of extraordinary talents and abilities. Robinson imbues the cast with a clear understanding of the material, which deepens the story’s impact and resonates with the theater-goer, regardless of one’s own particular life experiences.

“The Color Purple” is structured as a musical within a musical, with several locations along the way from Georgia circa early 1900s. The musical begins in church with Ah!mayZing! choral singing by Donnie Hammond, Jacquelin Lorraine Schofield and Sierra Wilson as the Church Ladies.

The scene shifts to Mister’s House, with George L. Brown (Mister) and Ensemble belting out “Big Dog” as they present eye-popping dance moves by Choreographer Devon Sinclair. Brown delivers one of the show’s show-stopping songs, “Mister’s Song,” with sensitive power.

Another of the show’s standouts, K. Bernice (Sofia) leads the female Ensemble in a rousing “Hell No,” the show’s empowerment fulcrum that foreshadows the transformation of Celie.

Jessica Johnson (Celie) changes physically as her awareness blooms, from hunched-shouldered meekness to strong and staunch, an achievement exemplified in her operatic rendering of “What About Love?,” with Ta-Tynisa Wilson (Shug Avery), and in Johnson’s solo of “What About Love?,” as well as her penultimate show-stopper, “I’m Here.” Johnson’s singing and performance is at once heartbreaking, breathtaking and inspiring.

One of the stops along the way on the road to redemption in “The Color Purple” is The Juke Joint, as Joel Oliver (Harpo) holds forth in “Brown Betty Part 1-2-3” and soon, all heck breaks loose in the production number, “Push Da Button,” sung with sly knowledge and intent by Ta-Tynisa Wilson (Shug Avery).

The journey shifts dramatically to Africa where Jessica Money (Nettie) sings the wistful “Africa,” Part 1. The play uses the device of letters written by Celie and Nettie to each other as a brilliant framing device for the storyline.

The Africa scenes showcase the lovely costumes by Costume Designer Jerrilyn Lanier Duckworth, the versatility of the minimalist set by Scenic Designer Deb Kim Sivigny, and effective use of lighting by Lighting Designer Alyssandra Docherty.

The PSF production is propelled by eight wonderful musicians conducted by Music Director Christie Chiles Twillie, on keyboards, and including Ryan Harrington, Linda Bolasky, reeds; Joseph Hall, trumpet; Wes Dziedzic, keyboards; Alex Charon, guitar, harmonica; Ty Hooker-Haring, bass, and Kevin Karschner, drums. Sound Designer is Larry D. Fowler, Jr.

“The Color Purple” cast includes Ken Boyd (Pa), Maya Marino Cappello (Olivia), Maya Cuevas (Squeak), Mikey Corey Hassel (Adam), Taylor J. Mitchell (Ensemble), Lathan A. Roberts (Grady), Monique Streety (Ensemble, Dance Captain), Denver Andre Taylor (Preacher) and Christopher Tipps (Buster).

“The Color Purple” is endearing and enduring. The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival production will long be remembered as one of the best ever. The state of “Purple” is indeed a state of grace. “Amen.”

“The Color Purple,” 7:30 p.m. July 24-26, 31; Aug. 1, 2; 2, 7:30 p.m. July 27, Aug. 3; 2 p.m. July 28, Aug. 4; 6:30 p.m. July 30, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Main Stage Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. 610-282-9455, https://pashakespeare.org/