Ashanti Takes on Broadway, Lands a Role in ‘The Whiz’
Ashanti will take her singing skills to New York's biggest stage in the Broadway play 'The Whiz.' The 28-year-old will star as Dorothy, in the adapted version of L. Baum's 'The Wizard of Oz.'
This isn't the first time Ashanti followed the yellow brick road. She first played the role on the small screen in 'The Muppets Wizard of Oz' in 2005. This time around the Grammy winner will be sans her puppet costars as she brings to life the role first played by singer Stephanie Mills in 1975. The play went on to win a Tony Award before being adapted into a film starring Diana Ross as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the scarecrow.
Actors Who Rock
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Matt Carr, Getty Images
Steve Spatafore, Getty Images
Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images
Bryan Bedder, Getty Images
Gregg DeGuire, WireImage
Lisa Lake, WireImage
John Shearer, WireImage
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Ashanti has been building up her acting resume appearing in the films 'Resident Evil: Extinction,' 'John Tucker Must Die' and 'Coach Carter.' The New York native shot to fame with her 2001 hit single 'Foolish.' She went on to become the first female artists to hold the top two spots on the Billboard Hot 100 charts simultaneously. Last year she released her fourth album 'The Dedication' less than stellar sales, pushing 86,000 copies in its first week.
The show will open on June 12 at New York's City Center and will run through July 5.