Although I think she could sing both Celie and Shug, she is a bit young for both roles, so Nettie deffinetly suits her better.
In regards to further casting.. although it's unconfirmed at this point, I have heard Janette Bayardelle (the current Celie on Broadway) will be leaving the NY company in February to launch the Chicago production (which is going to cycle into the tour.) We already know Felicia Fields (Sofia) will be apart of the Chicago company as well.
LaChanze is supposedly coming back for several weeks in NY after Janette leaves, and then a permanent replacement will be coming in after that.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
I bet people are excited to go to Chicago becasue they know they'll get to be on Oprah again, or something. I hope I can make it up to Chicago to see the show.
I music directed a production of Beehive in LA this past September. LaToya London was in the cast. She had top billing but never once acted like it. She was humble, easy to work with and she fit right in. She's a terrific talent and a really nice person.....and she's got a body that won't stop!
Never thought of that... but I highly doubt that it would be a huge reason to do the Chicago version. Maybe a final selling point, but not a reason.
I'm sure she'd be a great Nettie, but I'd love to see her do Celie or Shug one day. Any chance she'd understudy one of the roles? Sort of like Jenna Leigh Green with Nessa/Elphaba?