Rhonda LaChanze Sapp, better known by her stage name LaChanze (Creole: the charmed one), taken from her grandmother, was born in St Augustine, Florida.
Grew up in Connecticut, her parents nurtured her love for performing by enrolling her in high schools for the performing arts.
After high school, LaChanze studied Drama at Morgan State University, before transferring to the University of the Arts, she studied Theatre and Dance. Her first Summer job was as a tap dancer in the ensemble of out of town tryout of 'Uptown...It's Hot!.' She made her Broadway debut in the same show in 1986.
Broadway Download, the live, weekly digital radio show, is set to welcome Tony Award-nominee Montego Glover as well as the company directors of Staten Islands' Harbor Lights Theatre Company to its broadcast.
The world has loved the show-stopping Lillias White since she made her Broadway debut in Barnum in 1981. A Brooklyn native, White understudied the role of Effie in the original 1981 production of Dreamgirls and performed in the role in the 1987 revival. Since, Lillias White has taken television, film, and the stage by storm!
Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.
Nearly 20 years ago Broadway fell in love with the spellbinding Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley as Daisy and Violet Hilton; conjoined twins and unlikely starlets in the moody and romantic original 1997 production of SIDE SHOW by Bill Russell and Dreamgirls composer Henry Krieger, directed by Robert Longbottom. Skinner and Ripley have enjoyed Broadway success and acclaim, each in their own right, as well as thriving concert and recording careers. The ladies will talk work, play, friendship, family and the phenomenon that led to their remarkable joint Tony Nomination.
This July, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.
Capathia Jenkins is a Brooklyn-born actress who most recently starred as 'Medda' in the hit Disney production of Newsies' on Broadway. She made her debut in The Civil War, where she created the role of Harriet Jackson. She starred in the Off-Broadway 2000 revival of Godspell, where she wowed audiences with her stirring rendition of 'Turn Back, O Man'. She returned to Broadway in The Look of Love and was critically acclaimed for her performances of the Bacharach/David hits. Ms. Jenkins then created the roles of 'The Washing Machine' in Caroline, Or Change and 'Frieda May' in Martin Short-Fame becomes me where she sang 'Stop the Show' and brought the house down every night.
A "Retreat to Broadway & Friends" concert featuring five Broadway and two Off-Broadway performers is scheduled for Saturday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Feinstein's/54 Below in New York City. For ticket information, visit https://54below.com/events/retreat-broadway-friends/.
The original 'Dream' Sheryl Lee Ralph and Hairspray's Kathy Brier are the guests for this week's TRENT ARMAND KENDALL Broadway Download, a new entertainment based digital radio show co-hosted by Richard E. Waits, every Wednesday, 5:00-5:55 PM. www.cityworldradio.com
The original 'Dream' Sheryl Lee Ralph and Hairspray's Kathy Brier are the guests for this week's TRENT ARMAND KENDALL Broadway Download, a new entertainment based digital radio show co-hosted by Richard E. Waits, every Wednesday, 5:00-5:55 PM. www.cityworldradio.com
The Marvelous Wonderettes are back! The long-running Off-Broadway hit musical celebrated its opening night at New York's Theatre Row last night, April 28th. The show, featuring such classic fifties and sixties hits as 'Lollipop,' 'Dream Lover,' 'Stupid Cupid,' 'Son of a Preacher Man,' 'Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,' and 'It's My Party,' stars Christina Bianco as Missy, Kathy Brier as Suzy, Jenna Leigh Green as Cindy Lou, and Sally Schwab as Betty Jean. Laura Woyasz also stars as the 'Wonderstudy'. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening festivities below!
Photos by Jason Russo
FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, will present two of musical theater's most exciting young composers LANCE HORNE and DREW BRODY in a special evening on Wednesday, May 11 at 9:30 PM with special guest Beth Malone, the Tony Award-nominated star of Broadway's Fun Home.
The Marvelous Wonderettes are back! Producers Tom and Michael D'Angora are thrilled to offer a first look at that the new production of the long-running Off-Broadway hit musical that will celebrate its opening night at New York's Theatre Row on April 28th. The show, featuring such classic fifties and sixties hits as 'Lollipop,' 'Dream Lover,' 'Stupid Cupid,' 'Son of a Preacher Man,' 'Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,' and 'It's My Party,' stars Christina Bianco as Missy, Kathy Brier as Suzy, Jenna Leigh Green as Cindy Lou, and Sally Schwab as Betty Jean. Laura Woyasz also stars as the 'Wonderstudy'.
For the past week, audiences of Disaster! have been treated to surprise performances after the show by some of Broadway's best. Seth Rudetsky, star and co-creator of Disaster!, took to Instagram today to share the performances fans can expect to in the coming days!
This past week, audiences of DISASTER! have been treated to surprise performances after the show by some of Broadway's best, including cast members Kerry Butler and Adam Pascal, Cheyenne Jackson, Laura Bell Bundy, Kathy Brier, and Jackie Hoffman. Seth Rudetsky, star and co-creator of DISASTER! took to Facebook to share what performances fans can expect to in the coming days!
After last night's performance of DISASTER!, Laura Bell Bundy, Jackie Hoffman, and Kathy Brier joined Kerry Butler to sing 'Mama I'm A Big Girl Now' to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Check out the video below!