Adrianna Hicks, the Texas native playing Celie in the touring production of Broadway’s “The Color Purple,’’ had never been to Boston before last week, when the cast arrived for the local run at the Shubert Theatre. Hicks said she’s looking forward to exploring the city’s history in between performances throughout her stay.

The show, which is based on Alice Walker’s 1982 novel of the same name and the 1985 movie, will play through Dec. 3. Before her first full weekend in town, Hicks answered a few questions about her experience with the production.

Q. What does it mean to you to play Celie in “The Color Purple’’?

A. It means the world to me — it’s such an honor, such a blessing. It’s changing my life.

Q. How familiar were you with the show before this tour?

A. I was a part of the original revival cast back in 2015, and I was a swing in the show, so I covered seven of the nine girls, including Celie. That was my first encounter with the musical, but I, of course, knew the movie. I didn’t read the novel until before I started the Broadway production in 2015.

Q. How did you prepare for this role?

A. In so many ways. I told myself to breathe [laughs]. The main thing I told myself before I started working on the process of learning and growing into Celie even more was: “Adrianna, your only job is to be honest. Above everything else, make sure you bring you to this character, to this role.’’ I’ve stuck by that ever since because I know that it’s honesty that people need to see today.

Q. How do you bring that honesty out in a character who has faced such hardships in life?

A. Because of the heavy content of the story, I’m reminded that, “You’re doing this because it’s so much bigger than you, Adrianna.’’ That definitely helps me because I know that maneuvering through all of the emotions and ups and downs that Celie has to go through with her character, at the end of the day, I’m telling someone else’s story. That’s what helps me to get through it. I haven’t personally been through all the things that she’s gone through, but the thing that’s so beautiful about Celie and about “The Color Purple’’ is that it touches on multiple themes that every person goes through. Whether they’re black, white, male or female, it doesn’t matter. Every person is able to relate to Celie in some way because we’ve all faced the normal challenges of life — insecurities, wanting to know your purpose, believing and hoping that tomorrow is going to be better. We’ve all gone through these things as the human experience.