Darlesia Cearcy News

Singer/songwriter, actor and author Ashanti will make her stage debut as Dorothy in the New York City Center Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, June 12 - July 5 at New York City Center (W. 55th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues). The Wiz, the 1974 rock and soul musical based on the beloved L. Frank Baum story about Dorothy and her adventures in Oz, will be directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, with music direction by Alex Lacamoire, (the team responsible for the Tony-winning In the Heights).

'There's No Place Like Home' for homeless shelter dogs, according to Nigel, the former street-dog-turned-stage-star, who is making his New York professional debut in The Wiz at City Center in June. The need for a home is what inspired Nigel, along with co-star Ashanti (who plays Dorothy) to host 'There's No Place Like Home'Adoption Day on Saturday, May 30 at 11:00 am at City Center (55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues).

NIGHT SKY, a play by Susan Yankowitz about a brilliant astronomer who loses her ability to speak, will be presented Off-Broadway this spring with previews beginning May 22 prior to its official opening June 2 in the Rose Nagelberg Theatre at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (55 Lexington Ave.) in Manhattan.

Ashanti, joined by Thomas Kail and Alex Lacamoire, gave a special behind-the-scenes, sneak peek performance this morning, Tuesday May 19th, for the media and BWW TV was there!

Singer/songwriter, actor and author Ashanti will make her stage debut as Dorothy in the New York City Center Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, June 12 - July 5 at New York City Center (W. 55th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues). The Wiz, the 1974 rock and soul musical based on the beloved L. Frank Baum story about Dorothy and her adventures in Oz, will be directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, with music direction by Alex Lacamoire, (the team responsible for the Tony-winning In the Heights)

'There's No Place Like Home' for homeless shelter dogs, according to Nigel, the former street-dog-turned-stage-star, who is making his New York professional debut in The Wiz at City Center in June. The need for a home is what inspired Nigel, along with co-star Ashanti (who plays Dorothy) to host 'There's No Place Like Home'Adoption Day on Saturday, May 30 at 11:00 am at City Center (55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues).

Nigel, a brindle-hair Cairn Terrier, will be making his professional stage debut as Toto in the Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti as Dorothy, June 12 - July 5 at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues).

Orlando Jones will play The Wiz, and Tony Award-winning actress LaChanze will play Glinda, the good witch, in the Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti, June 12 July 5 at New York City Center. Glinda's sister-witches will include Tichina Arnold as Evillene and Dawnn Lewis as Addaperle. Easing down the road with Ashanti's Dorothy will be Joshua Henry as the Tinman, James Monroe Iglehart as the Lion and Christian White as the Scarecrow.

NIGHT SKY, a play by Susan Yankowitz about a brilliant astronomer who loses her ability to speak, will be presented Off-Broadway this spring with previews beginning May 22 prior to its official opening June 2 in the Rose Nagelberg Theatre at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (55 Lexington Ave.) in Manhattan.

Emerging Artists Theatre presents 'Notes From a Page' beginning June 10th.

The producers of The Color Purple are pleased to announce that Zonya Love will make her Broadway debut as Celie in the smash hit musical starting Wednesday, January 9, 2008, alongside Chaka Khan as Sofia and BeBe Winans as Harpo.

American Idol' winner Fantasia Barrino made Broadway debut in the starring role of Celie in The Color Purple on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 7pm, at the Broadway Theatre!

On February 20th, Kenita R. Miller will join the cast of The Color Purple as Celie. Jeannette Bayardelle, who currently plays the role, leaves the cast on February 18th.

Fantasia Barrino may be the latest 'American Idol' veteran to find work on Broadway, if she is cast as Celie in The Color Purple

A new television special on The Color Purple will celebrate the hit musical's journey from page and screen to the stage.

The Color Purple will celebrate its 500th performance tonight, Tuesday, February 13, 2007 at 7:00PM at the Broadway Theatre

On Wednesday, November 29th, Pulitzer Prize-winning The Color Purple bookwriter Marsha Norman will join Broadway star LaChanze, who will reprise her Tony Award-winning role as Celie in a free event to promote the new book The Color Purple: A Memory Book of the Broadway Musical.

On Tuesday, November 28th, the producers of the hit musical The Color Purple will hold an open casting call for current roles and future replacements for both Broadway and the upcoming national tour, kicking off at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre in April, 2007

On November 15th, a The Color Purple event at Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center featured a discussion, book signing and musical performances

A 'The Color Purple' event at Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center will feature a discussion, book signing and musical performances