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BlackVoices.com has learned that Chandra Wilson will star in Broadway's hit musical 'Chicago,' for a limited run starting June 8 through July 5.
The 'Grey's Anatomy' star will play the role of Matron "Mama" Morton, which was portrayed by Queen Latifah in the big screen remake of the show in 2002.
The Black Families On TV
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The Cosby Show
Seasons: Eight
Notable Cast Members: Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Tempestt Bledsoe, Lisa Bonet, Raven-Symoné
Storyline: Popular comedy television series based on a happily married couple raising their children in Brooklyn, New York.
Sidenote: Throughout the course of eight seasons The Huxtable family helped set the stage for black families on prime time television. Bill Cosby's character, Cliff Huxtable was such a role model that he topped TV Guide's 2004 list of "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time."
Everett Collection
'Family Matters'
Seasons: Nine
Notable Cast Members: Reginald Vel Johnson, Darius McCrary, Kellie Shanygne Williams, JoMarie Payton, Jaleel White, Telma Hopkins
Storyline: Based on middle-class suburban Chicago black family, the Winslows.
Sidenote: Spinning off it's sister show 'Perfect Strangers,' the hit sitcom spawned off one of the most popular characters in sitcom history, Steve Urkel. America's favorite nerd was so popular that he established a merchandising empire, which included a talking doll, trading cards, posters, books, lunchboxes and a limited edition cereal.
Warner Bros.
'Lincoln Heights'
Seasons: Three
Notable Cast Members: Russell Hornsby, Nicki Micheaux, Erica Hubbard, Rhyon Nicole Brown, Mishon Ratliff, Michael Reilly Burke, Robert Adamson, William Stanford Davis
Storyline: A drama revolving around the life of LAPD officer Eddie Sutton, who is in pursuit of a better life for his family. Ironically, Sutton moves his family into his old neighborhood which is known for its violence.
Sidenote: In 2008 the series was nominated for four NAACP Image Awards including Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series, Outstanding Drama Series, and Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series.
ABC Family
'My Wife & Kids'
Seasons: Five
Notable Cast Members: Damon Wayans, Tisha Campbell-Martin, George O. Gore II
Storyline: Damon Wayans portrays Michael Kyle, a loving husband who maintains his household by teaching his family some valuable wisdom and knowledge, and learning some himself.
Sidenote: The show's co-creator, Damon Wayans, may have regretted the original storyline of Claire Kyle following the loss of cast member Jazz Raycole. Raycole's mother disapproved of the actress' storyline for season two, which led to her being pulled from the show.
2000 ABC, INC.
The Jeffersons
Seasons: 11
Notable Cast Members: Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, Marla Gibbs, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover, Paul Benedict
Storyline: Entrepreneur George Jefferson hits the ticket with his successful dry-cleaning business, which leads him to move into a ritzy New York City high-rise.
Sidenote: America can thank fellow 'Good Times' actress Ja'Net DuBois for helping George Jefferson's family move up to the east side. The Emmy Award-winner co-wrote and sang the show's opening and closing theme song 'Movin' On Up.'
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'What's Happening!!'
Seasons: Three
Notable Cast Members: Ernest Lee Thomas, Haywood Nelson, Fred Berry, Danielle Spencer, Mabel King, Shirley Hemphill, David Hollander, John Welsh, Earl Billings, Leland Smith
Storyline: Loosely based on the motion picture 'Cooley High' a trio of friends go through the trials and tribulations of young adulthood.
Sidenote: Fred Berry's character Rerun almost didn't turn out as we may remember him today. Originally the role was reportedly written to fit the description of a skinny white kid.
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'227'
Seasons: Five
Notable Cast Members: Marla Gibbs, Alaina Reed Hall, Jackée Harry, Helen Martin, Hal Williams, Regina King, Curtis Baldwin, Kia Goodwin, Reynaldo Rey, Countess Vaughn
Storyline: Taking place in a Washington D.C. apartment building, numbered 227, the show's characters would be found sitting outside on a large set of stone stairs (aka the stoop), in which a discussion would lead into the weekly plot line.
Sidenote: Former 'Moesha' and 'Celebrity Fit Club' star Countess Vaughn received her big break in Hollywood by simply asking. Vaughn mentioned her dream of appearing on '227' following her 1988 appearance on the talent show series 'Star Search.'
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'Julia'
Seasons: Three
Notable Cast Members: Diahann Carroll, Lloyd Nolan, Paul Winfield, Fred Williamson
Storyline: Centering on a young widow working as a nurse, trying to make ends meet while raising her son as a single parent.
Sidenote: The 1960 NBC comedy is known for being one of the first weekly shows to depict African-American woman in the non stereotypical role of playing servants. The drama eventually lead to the show's star Diahann Carroll asking for a release from her contract due to the controversy surrounding the show from its inception.
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'The Wayans Bros'
Seasons: Five
Notable Cast Members: Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, John Witherspoon, Anna Maria Horsford, Jermaine Hopkins, Ja'Net DuBois, Phill Lewis
Storyline: The show follows lives of two brothers, Shawn and Marlon Williams, who run their own newspaper stand from out of their father's diner.
Sidenote: Following their family's tradition of producing sitcoms, Shawn and Marlon Wayans debut 'The Wayans Bros' in 1995. Adding to the sitcom's hip-hop feel, the brothers used A Tribe Called Quest's hit single 'Electric Relaxation' as the show's opening theme for the first two seasons.
Warner Bros.
Wilson has portrayed Dr. Miranda Bailey on the ABC hit drama series since 2005. For her turn as the no-nonsense hospital honcho, the Houston native has garnered three Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She also won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series, a second Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Drama Series Ensemble and three NAACP Image Awards.
'Chicago' will not be her first turn on The Great White Way; she starred in the production of Lynda Barry's 'The Good Times Are Killing Me,' both at the Second Stage and Minetta Lane Theatres, for which she won a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance. In 2004 she won raves for her role as Dotty Moffett in 'Caroline, or Change,' which was written by Tony Kushner, composed by Jeanine Tesori and directed by George C. Wolfe.
She also appeared in the Broadway productions of 'Avenue Q' and 'On the Town/'
Wilson, who has been performing in musicals since the age of five, earned her BFA in Drama from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where she spent four years training at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute.
2009 Grammy Nominations
Singer Celine Dion (R) announces nominees for Album of the the Year during the Grammy Nominations Concert organized to announce the nominations for the 51st Grammy Awards at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles, California, on December 3, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Singer Celine Dion performs during the Grammy Nominations Concert organized to announce the nominations for the 51st Grammy Awards at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles, California, on December 3, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Singer Taylor Swift (R) and Neil Portnow, president/CEO of the Recording Academy, appear on stage during the Grammy Nominations Concert organized to announce the nominations for the 51st Grammy Awards at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles, California, on December 3, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Singer Celine Dion announces nominees for the Album of the Year during the Grammy Nominations Concert organized to announce the nominations for the 51st Grammy Awards at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles, California, on December 3, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US singer Mariah Carey performs during the Grammy Nominations Concert organized to announce the nominations for the 51st Grammy Awards at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles, California, on December 3, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US singer Mariah Carey performs during the Grammy Nominations Concert organized to announce the nominations for the 51st Grammy Awards at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles, California, on December 3, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US singer Mariah Carey performs during the Grammy Nominations Concert organized to announce the nominations for the 51st Grammy Awards at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles, California, on December 3, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
** FILE ** In this Dec. 3, 2008 file photo, Taylor Swift arrives at "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live" in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)
AP
Musician Ne-Yo poses in the press room during The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live held at the Nokia Theatre on December 3, 2008 in Los Angeles, California..The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! - Press Room.Nokia Theatre.Los Angeles, California United States.December 3, 2008.Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com..To license this image (56303818), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Taylor Swift arrives at the Grammy Nomination Concert Live at the Nokia Theatre on December 3, 2008 in Los Angeles, California..The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! - Arrivals.Nokia Theatre.Los Angeles, CA United States.December 3, 2008.Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com..To license this image (16188028), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Comments: (10)
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By: JB on 3/12/2009 3:10PM
I've seen some earlier live videos of her theatre performances and she is an absolute dynamo! She is a diversely talented gal. Greys' shows only a small (but funny) side of her talent. Break a leg!
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By: LA Menard on 3/12/2009 3:53PM
There are some people on this list of "Black Famous Faces" that would be hard to really call Famous - and you forgot one of the best - Brian Stokes Mitchell...come on...
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By: Blueberrypi on 3/12/2009 7:29PM
She's a terrific actor. Go for it!
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By: Felicia on 3/12/2009 10:29PM
I just LOVE her too! I didnt know of her past experience on broadway but I'm sure to follow her. I like that she represents the NORMAL African american woman that stands out with enormous talent. Where ever this woman goes I will be watching. YOU GO GIRL!!
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By: D. Naybor on 3/15/2009 1:10PM
She is such an extraordinarily talented actress. One of my absolute favorites on Grey's. All the best to her. She will no doubt be a hit. "Break a Leg" Chandra!
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By: jbjg24m on 3/14/2009 7:36AM
never cared for "Greys"
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By: margie spenser on 3/14/2009 11:17AM
She is so much slimmer in the picture here. Does she wear a "fat suit" on Grey's? I agree, she is a dynamite actress and one of the best on the TV show; she's one of the essential parts. If she left I'm not sure I'd still watch.
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By: robert on 3/14/2009 12:18PM
Why do they think this role should be given to a black person all the time. I saw Chicago on broad way and it was done by a white person and much better i might add. I hate how they feel they have to give a black a role not meant for them.can't those people stick to black based movies.
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By: tre119 on 3/14/2009 12:30PM
can we ever have an article where people don't feel they have to leave racist comments? Who cares if the role is played by a white person or black person? REALLY get over it already.
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By: terry on 4/07/2009 9:35AM
Wish you only the best!!!! Due to the talent of this woman I am so fond of grey's anatomy, that downloaded all its episodes (for other fans here's the link http://file.sh/Grey%27s%20anatomy+torrent.html ). Good luck in your future work!
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