LaChanze
Latest News on LaChanze :
Bio:
LaChanze's Her first summer job was as a tap dancer in the ensemble of Uptown... It's Hot! at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The show opened on Broadway in January 1986, where LaChanze began her professional career in the theater.
LaChanze played the role of "Ti Moune" in the ...
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LaChanze Biography
LaChanze's Her first summer job was as a tap dancer in the ensemble of Uptown... It's Hot! at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The show opened on Broadway in January 1986, where LaChanze began her professional career in the theater.LaChanze played the role of "Ti Moune" in the Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty musical Once on This Island in 1990 and received nominations for the Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Musical and Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Actress in a Musical. She was a replacement "Sarah" in the Ahrens and Flaherty and Terrence McNally Broadway musical Ragtime, starting in December 1998. She played the role of "Viveca" in the Playwrights Horizons Off-Broadway production of the musical The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, which opened in June 2000. She received a Drama Desk nomination, Actress (Musical), for her performance. LaChanze participated in an Actors Fund of America benefit concert of Funny Girl, with many performers portraying the character of "Fanny Brice", in September 2002.
In 2005 she played a runaway slave in the Ahrens and Flaherty musical Dessa Rose. The musical opened Off-Broadway at the Mitzi Newhouse Theatre at Lincoln Center in March 2005. LaChanze received an Obie Award for Performance for Dessa Rose. LaChanze appeared as "Celie" in the Broadway musical The Color Purple, from its opening in 2005 to November 2006. She won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for this performance.
In September 2008 she participated in the Boston Pops concert, Handel's Messiah Rocks at Emerson College. The performance was filmed by Public Broadcasting Service. She was in the Off-Broadway production of Inked Baby, written by Christina Anderson, which opened in March 2009 at Playwrights Horizons Peter Jay Sharp Theater. In June and July 2009, she played the role of "Glinda" in the City Center Encores! staged Summer Stars concert production of The Wiz.
She published her first picture book, Little Diva, in 2010. She was in the Broadway production of If/Then in 2014, starring as Kate. In 2018, she was in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway, playing Diva Donna/Mary Gaines. She is currently in A Christmas Carol on Broadway, starring as the Ghost of Christmas Present.
LaChanze Awards and Nominations
Drama League Awards - 2022 - Distinguished Performance Awards | ||
LaChanze, Trouble in Mind | ||
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2022 - Outstanding Actress in a Play | ||
LaChanze, Trouble in Mind | ||
Tony Awards - 2022 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play | ||
LaChanze, Trouble in Mind | ||
Drama Desk Awards - 2020 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | ||
LaChanze, The Secret Life of Bees | ||
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2020 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical ![]() |
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LaChanze, The Secret Life of Bees | ||
Drama Desk Awards - 2018 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical | ||
LaChanze, Summer | ||
Drama League Awards - 2018 - Distinguished Performance Award | ||
LaChanze, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical | ||
Tony Awards - 2018 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | ||
LaChanze, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical | ||
BroadwayWorld Awards - 2014 - Best Featured Actress in a Musical ![]() |
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LaChanze, If/Then | ||
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2006 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical | ||
La Chanze, The Color Purple | ||
Tony Awards - 2006 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical ![]() |
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LaChanze, The Color Purple | ||
Obie Awards - 2005 - Performance ![]() |
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LaChanze, Dessa Rose | ||
Drama Desk Awards - 2000 - Outstanding Actress - Musical ![]() |
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La Chanze, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin | ||
Theatre World Awards - 1991 - Performance ![]() |
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LaChanze, Once on This Island | ||
Tony Awards - 1991 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | ||
LaChanze , Once on this Island |
LaChanze News

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 25, 2023
Edward R. Matthews, CEO of ADAPT Community Network, has announced the honorees for the ADAPT Leadership Awards, which will take place on Thursday, March 9th, 2023, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

by A.A. Cristi - Jan 11, 2023
Edward R. Matthews, CEO of ADAPT Community Network, has announced that the ADAPT Leadership Awards will take place on Thursday, March 9th, 2023, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. The awards gala will support the important ongoing work of the non-profit organization.

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 10, 2023
J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company has announced the exciting three-musical lineup for its third season. The 2023 season runs April 13 through May 21, 2023 at Theatre Row. Read details about the season and learn how to purchase tickets.

by Stephi Wild - Jan 4, 2023
The Color Purple comes to the North Carolina Theatre this year. Performances run April 22- April 30, 2023 in the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater.

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 21, 2022
TOPDOG/UNDERDOG on Broadway will host a special performance for members of The Divine Nine, the nine historically Black Greek Letter organizations (BGLOs) that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 20, 2022
TOPDOG/UNDERDOG STUDENT SEATS, the ticket program that provides fully funded tickets to student groups, has exceeded its projected goal, welcoming over 4,000 NYC students to see the production free of charge at Broadway’s Golden Theatre.

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 8, 2022
Roundabout Theatre Company's 2023 Gala will honor Amy Sherman-Palladino, Daniel Palladino, Scott Ellis, and Black Theatre United on Monday, March 6 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City.

by Bruce Glikas - Dec 6, 2022
Broadway Women’s Alliance hosted a special Broadway community screening of the new film Women Talking on Monday, December 5 at 6:30 pm.

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 1, 2022
See photos from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's star-studded Opening Night Gala, which was complete with a performance and party led by Artistic Director Robert Battle with two-time Emmy-winning TV host, journalist, author and producer Tamron Hall as Honorary Chair.

by A.A. Cristi - Nov 28, 2022
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater kicks off its 2022 holiday season engagement with a start-studded one-night only gala benefit on Wednesday, November 30 at 7pm, complete with an exceptional performance at New York City Center followed by a dinner-party at the Ziegfeld Ballroom.
LaChanze Videos


by BroadwayWorld TV - Jun 8, 2022
Leading up to the 75th Annual Tony Awards, BroadwayWorld is getting up close and personal with the nominees. Today we're studying up on LaChanze! 'Knowing that I was able to be a part of this play in this time is one of the most proud moments in my entire theatrical career,' she explained about the play.


by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 29, 2022
North Carolina Theatre, the region’s premiere nonprofit professional regional theatre, has announced their 2022-23 season sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield on stage at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh!


by Backstage With Richard Ridge - Feb 11, 2022
Tonight's the night! Broadway stars align at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts this weekend as they come together for two performances only (February 11 and 12) of 50 Years of Broadway at the Kennedy Center.


by Team BWW - Nov 19, 2021
Just last night, Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway premiere of Trouble in Mind opened on Broadway. BroadwayWorld is taking you inside the big night!


by BroadwayWorld TV - Nov 17, 2021
Roundabout Theatre Company is presenting the Broadway premiere of Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress, directed by Charles Randolph-Wright and starring Tony & Emmy Award winner LaChanze.


by BroadwayWorld TV - Oct 29, 2021
Check out interviews from the cast of Trouble in Mind, including LaChanze as “Wiletta Mayer,” Michael Zegen as “Al Manners,” Chuck Cooper as “Sheldon Forrester,” Danielle Campbell as “Judy Sears,” Jessica Frances Dukes as “Millie Davis,” Brandon Micheal Hall as “John Nevins,” and more.


by BroadwayWorld TV - Oct 24, 2021
Roundabout Theatre Company will soon present the Broadway premiere of Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress, directed by Charles Randolph-Wright. Watch as the company gets ready to bring the show to Broadway!


by Stage Tube - Aug 15, 2021
The performers were shot and recorded in all 5 Boroughs in locations such as Birdland, the Brooklyn Museum, Columbia University, La Casita de Chema, Maimonides Park, NYU, Open Jar Studios, Red Hook Winery, Russ & Daughters, Steinway & Sons Factory, Tom’s Restaurant, and the Wonder Wheel among many others.


by Stage Tube - Mar 29, 2021
LaChanze and Vanessa Williams from Black Theatre United, Victor Vazquez from X Casting NYC, and Brandon Michael Nase and Tiana Okoye from Broadway for Racial Justice sat down for an open and honest conversation about the changes that need to happen to make our industry more diverse, equitable and inclusive.


by BroadwayWorld TV - Feb 14, 2021
Today we're celebrating Black History Month by taking a closer look at the 2009 Encores! production of The Wiz, which starred James Monroe Iglehart, Joshua Henry, LaChanze, Ashanti and more. Watch as we take you inside rehearsals with the cast!