Fantasia previously played the role on Broadway, where she won a Theatre World Award. She 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.

Broadway/L.A. has also announced the rest of its 2010 season at the Pantages Theatre, which will include Riverdance (January 12-24), Stomp (January 26-February 7), Cats (March 9-21), Chicago (April 20-May 2), 101 Dalmatians (June 8-20), In the Heights (June 22-July 11), and Young Frankenstein (July 27-August 15).