• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

It's Broadway, Baby!

History of Broadway
By · Updated October 29, 2020
01
Girl’s Best Friend

R&B songstress Ashanti makes her Broadway debut next week in the revival of “The Wiz.” Her much-buzzed-about role got us thinking about other pop stars who’ve made it happen on the Great White Way.

See more photos of Ashanti »

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
02
Love Is Blind

Heather Headley and Adam Pascal star as torn lovers in Elton John’s “Aida,” a musical about an interracial romance that transcends all cultural adversities.

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
03
Home Sweet Home

Stephanie Mills brought the house down every night as the leading lady of “The Wiz.” Years later she recorded “Home,” which is still a favorite among R&B lovers.

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
04
Sophisticated Lady

Former Miss America and “Ugly Betty” beauty Vanessa Williams has enjoyed an illustrious acting and singing career. Williams and John McMartin, right, take a bow during the curtain call for the opening of the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine play “Into the Woods” at the Broadhurst Theater April 30, 2002, in New York City. Williams also starred as the lead in “The Kiss of the Spiderwoman.”

See more photos of Vanessa Williams »

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
Getty Image
05
Dream Girl

Jennifer Holiday made the “Dreamgirls” role of Effie White legendary with her earthquaking performance of “And I’m Telling You.” Some 20-plus years later, Jennifer Hudson made it just as famous in the film and nabbed an Oscar for it.

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
Getty Image
06
Gift of Song

Actress and singer Loretta Devine brought the house down in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “Dreamgirls” as Lorell Robinson (a character loosely based on Mary Wilson). She also made a cameo appearance in the film.

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
07
Spotlight Diva

Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph as Deena Jones in “Dreamgirls.” The role was later reprised by Beyoncé Knowles on the big screen.

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
08
Dancing Machine

The Prince of R&B Usher plays slick-talking lawyer Bill Flynn in the 1920’s-era musical Chicago.

View more photos of Usher »

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
Getty Image
09
Legal Woes

Television host, comedian and soul singer Wayne Brady also resurrected the role of Flynn in Chicago.

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
Getty Image
10
Diddy Does Broadway

Sean “Diddy” Combs proved once again that he “won’t stop” when he surprised audiences with his star turn as Walter Lee in the acclaimed “A Raisin in the Sun.” He caused quite a stir among the Black acting community who felt his foray into theater was a mockery of their profession. Still, the music mogul pursues his passions fervently.

View more photos of Diddy »

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
11
Pride and Joy

“American Idol” winner and J Records recording artist Fantasia Barrino belts the song “I’m Here” as Ciely in Oprah’s Broadway production of “The Color Purple.”

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
12
Southern Love

Bebe Winans and Chaka Khan play Harpo and Sophia (originally played by Oprah in the film) in “The Color Purple.”

View more photos of Chaka Khan »

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
13
Toni Braxton Stars in “Aida”

Six-time Grammy winner Toni Braxton made chart-topping history with her single “Un-break My Heart,” so it’s no surprise that she transitioned to the stage. The diva sold out shows in her run on Broadway as the lead role in Elton John’s “Aida.” She was also earned raves in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

View more photos of Toni Braxton »

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
14
Queen of the Night

Former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams replaces Toni Braxton as Aida.

View more photos of Michelle Williams »

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
15
Lift Every Voice

Deborah Cox, who was always pegged as the next Whitney Houston by mentor Clive Davis, wows the crowd with her powerful vocals as Aida.

View more photos of Deborah Cox »

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
16
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

See the latest photos of your favorite celebs»

Read exclusive interviews with the hottest stars »

It’s Broadway, Baby!
17
172161 340x 1
It’s Broadway, Baby!
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now