WATCH NOW! Zooming in on the Tony Nominees: LaChanze

The Tony Awards are like Christmas in June for theatre lovers, and that makes this year's nominees the reason for the season. 2017-18 was a year or variety, as audiences cheered on mean girls, tall women, and fair ladies alike. Our travel destinations ranged from Bet Hatikva to Bikini Bottom; Arendelle to the Antilles. We've contemplated redemption with Billy, pondered pipe dreams with Hickey, and reexamined the past with Harry- all from the the comfort of a seat on the aisle.

This year's Tony nominees transported us with the magic of theatre, and we're saluting their work by taking a closer look at their extraordinary accomplishments. Today we're studying up on LaChanze!

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Quick Facts About LaChanze:

Her Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

The Role: Diva Donna in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical

Up Against: Lauren Ambrose (My Fair Lady), Hailey Kilgore (Once On This Island), Katrina Lenk (The Band's Visit), Taylor Louderman (Mean Girls), Jessie Mueller (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel)

Did You Know?: LaChanze won a Tony Award in 2006 for her performance in The Color Purple.

Photos by Walter McBride

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watch as LaChanze tells us all about want this nomination means to her, how she's preparing for the Tonys, and so much more!

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