Ashanti
R&B singer-songwriter Ashanti will topline the Encores! Summer Stars staging of "The Wiz," beginning perfs in June.
Single-monikered performer will play Dorothy in the limited-run revival of the 1975 tuner, a redux of "The Wizard of Oz."
No other casting has been announced for the production, helmed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, who collaborated previously on "In the Heights."
"Wiz" is the third outing for Summer Stars, the more fully produced offshoot of the Encores! series of semi-staged concert performances. The first outing of the series, "Gypsy," transferred to Broadway last season and picked up three Tonys.
"Wiz" runs June 12-July 5.
Contact Gordon Cox at
gordon.cox@variety.com