Ashanti, the Grammy-winning R&B artist who will star as Dorothy in the Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, greeted the press May 19 at City Center.
The summer production will mark the stage debut for Ashanti, who has appeared on screen in “American Dreams” as Dionne Warwick, as well as in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Coach Carter,” “Resident Evil Extinction,” “John Tucker Must Die” and “Bride & Prejudice.”
She will be joined onstage by Orlando Jones as The Wiz, Tony winner LaChanze as Glinda, Tichina Arnold as Evillene, Dawnn Lewis as Addaperle, Joshua Henry as the Tinman, James Monroe Iglehart as the Lion and Christian White as the Scarecrow.
Tony-nominated In the Heights director Thomas Kail and his Tony-winning collaborators, Andy Blankenbuehler (choreographer) and Alex Lacamoire (musical director), will helm the production, set to run at City Center June 12-July 5.
Source: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129481-PHOTO_CALL_The_Wiz%27s_Ashanti_Meets_the_Press