R&B singer Ashanti is to make something of a career change by making her stage debut on Broadway this summer. The "Happy" hitmaker is to star as Dorothy in "The Wiz", you guessed it, a musical adaptation of William F. Brown's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" with a score by Charlie Smalls.
Ashanti will be following in the footsteps of the supreme Diana Ross, who played the character in the 1978 film version of the musical, directed by Sydney Lumet with a soundtrack produced by Quincy Jones. The film also featured Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow. Feck Judy Garland, I have to check that out!
Ashanti will make her debut in the soul-tinged version of the classic tale from June 12th at the New York City Centre as part of its "Encores! Summer Stars" series.
