Fantasia Barrino to Join The Color Purple This Spring?

E! Online reports that Fantasia Barrino may be the latest "American Idol" veteran to find work on Broadway.

Barrino may be joining the cast of The Color Purple in the spring.  She would play Celie, the role originated by Tony Award-winner LaChanze and now played by Jeannette Bayardelle. 

A four-time Grammy Award-nominee, Barrino won the third season of "American Idol."  She is believed to have been a frontrunner for the role of Effie in the Dreamgirls film (the part ultimately went to fellow "American Idol" star Jennifer Hudson").  "Fantasia" is the 22 year-old's debut album.

The Color Purple ,based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Alice Walker, recently celebrated its 500th performance at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway), where it began preview performances in New York on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 opened on Thursday, December 1, 2005.

The Color Purple is directed by Gary Griffin, while Marsha Norman (Pulitzer Prize-winner for 'night, Mother, The Secret Garden) wrote the book. The show's score is penned by pop tunesmiths Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. Donald Byrd is The Color Purple's choreographer.

The musical currently stars Jeanette Bayardelle (as Celie), Elisabeth Withers-Mendes (as Shug Avery), NaTasha Yvette Williams (as Sofia), Chaz Lamar Shepherd (as Harpo), Darlesia Cearcy (as Nettie), Krisha Marcano (as Squeak) and Alton Fitzgerald-White (as Mister.)

A national tour will begin in April.

Tickets for The Color Purple may be purchased by visiting www.Telecharge.com, by calling 212-239-6200 or visiting the Broadway Theatre box office.

Visit www.colorpurple.com for more information.  Visit www.fantasiabarrinoofficial.com for more on Barrino.

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