Ashanti is Dorothy in Broadway's The Wiz.
By Matthew Blank 21 May 2009 Ashanti, the Grammy-winning R&B artist who will star as Dorothy in the Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, greeted the press May 19 at City Center.
The summer production will mark the stage debut for Ashanti, who has appeared on screen in "American Dreams" as Dionne Warwick, as well as in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Coach Carter," "Resident Evil Extinction," "John Tucker Must Die" and "Bride & Prejudice."
She will be joined onstage by Orlando Jones as The Wiz, Tony winner LaChanze as Glinda, Tichina Arnold as Evillene, Dawnn Lewis as Addaperle, Joshua Henry as the Tinman, James Monroe Iglehart as the Lion and Christian White as the Scarecrow. SOURCE
I must admit I was on the "Ashanti can't really sing" train given her pop past but I was pleasantly surprised at her performance. That's the way to shut haters down (myself included) just do it.
I liked it a lot. Her voice is light and it seems to float on air. If she comes to Los Angeles I will go to see her.
This weekend for my wife’s birthday, I’m taking her to see “Ain’t Misbehavin”. Fats Waller’s music is fantastic! One of his songs is “Your feets too big”. The opening line goes: ( Fats Waller sings this part of the line ) “Up in Harlem at a table for 2”, ( then he speaks this 2nd part of the line ) “there was 4 of us there, me, your 2 big feet and you”. LOL. Have a nice Memorial Day.
Same to you, Smooth!