FANTASIA: Turning 'Purple' Green

By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

Four time Grammy Award nominated 'American Idol' champ Fantasia Barrino will make her Broadway debut in 'The Color Purple' on April 10, 2007.

Fantasia Barrino's new CD may not have gone gold yet, but she's laughing all the way to the bank.

Ticket sales for Broadway's 'The Color Purple' have soared since the 'American Idol' winner announced that she was playing the lead role on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' last month.

With the splashy announcement came Barrino belting out the musical's torch song 'I'm Here,' composed by Brenda Russell, Stephen Bray and Allee Willis.

It didn't hurt that "Tasia," as she is affectionately becoming known as, also appeared on the ratings juggernaut 'American Idol' for a similar promotion.

Combined, both shows garnered nearly 45 million viewers.

And the major mainstream media exposure has reflected in a rejuvenated box-office for the Winfrey-produced theatrical spectacle ... to the tune of $2 million in advance sales, reports entertainment industry bible 'Variety.'

"I had seen the movie," Barrino comented about 'Purple,' "but it's such an inspirational play. I was crying. I was saying, 'Oh, Lord, I hope I'm not the only one crying!' "

"It's one of those plays that ... when you leave, you will have your head up, and you will be like, 'You know what? I'm going through some things, but that's all right.' "

Marking her official theatrical debut, the church-reared Barrino -- currently doing rehearsals for 'Purple' in Chicago -- is contracted for her stint on The Great White Way through the fall.

"I am proud and honored to welcome Fantasia – such an authentic, strong, original performer – to 'The Color Purple' family," the show's lead producer Scott Sanders told The BV Newswire today. "She embodies the perseverance, faith, and love that has become synonymous with the character of Celie."

"It's such a powerful role," Barrino said. "She went through so many things. She had people telling her she wasn't this, she wasn't that, she was ugly. But she still kept a smile on her face. And at the end, she said, 'You know what? I may be poor. I may be ugly. But I'm here.' And I'm ready. I've got so much to let out, and I feel like I can take all of that and put it out there on the stage."

On April 10, she will officially take her bow at the Broadway Theatre for the very first time.