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Singer Fantasia Barrino will play the role of Celie in the national tour of The Color Purple, when it plays Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center (June 30-August 2), Chicago's Arie Crown Theater (September 2-13), Atlanta's Fabulous Fox Theatre (September 15-27), and Los Angeles' Pantages Theatre (February 10-28). She previously played the role on Broadway, where she won a Theatre World Award.

Fantasia first came to fame when she was declared the winner of season 3 of the TV series American Idol. Since then, she has released the hit albums Free Yourself and Fantasia, written her autobiography Life Is Not a Fairy Tale and starred in the television film adaptation of the book. She will also be the subject of a VH1 reality series to air in 2010, focusing on her life as a recording artist and a single mother.

The Color Purple, based on the novel by Alice Walker, is directed by Gary Griffin. It features a book by Marsha Norman, a score by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, and choreography by Donald Byrd.

For tickets and information, call 202-467-4600 or visit www.colorpurple.com.