Fantasia Set for Color Purple in Atlanta, Chicago, D.C. and L.A.

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.