It’s quite possible that Fantasia (Barrino) will have a more lucrative post–American Idol career than Jennifer Hudson. She’s been nominated for eight Grammys, and will shortly star in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical The Color Purple.
In the Oprah–produced stage show, Fantasia played the lead role of Celie, and according to reports out of Hollywood, she’ll duplicate it for the movie.
On the road in support of her third CD, Back to Me, Fantasia will sing at the Johnny Mercer Theatre Nov. 10. Tickets, on sale now, are $45.50–$75.
The New York Times called her Broadway “pretty terrific. So terrific that this earnest but mechanical musical is more effective and affecting than it was when it yawned open a year and a half ago.”
Not bad at all for a North Carolina native who describes herself as “functionally illiterate,” and who had never – before accepting the Color Purple role – seen a single stage musical.
Her father sued her for $10 million, claiming she said disparaging (and just plain untrue) things about him in her 2006 autobiography.
And then there’s the matter of her much–publicized fling with a married man, which resulted in an (also much–publicized) suicide attempt on Aug. 9.
The singer has denied trying to take her own life, although the incident was chronicled for her VH1 reality show, Fantasia For Real.
Whether any of this matters might be moot, as Back to Me recently hit No. 1 on Billboard’s hip hop/R&B album chart, and peaked at No. 2 on the Top 200 (where it’s still in the Top Twenty).
Vocalist Eric Benet will open the Savannah concert.
Vinyl is final
The ever–popular SCAD Savannah Record Fair returns to the River Club Oct. 16. For the uninitiated, this is a room full of dealers selling new and used vinyl – finally, grab that John Denver’s Greatest Hits you’ve been craving! – and sundry types of music memorabilia.
It’s free, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will be followed (at 8) by a show by the incredible Athens band Venice is Sinking.
It’ll cost the public $5 to see the band, but SCAD students with I.D. can get in for nothing.
For additional info, see savannahrecordfair.com
The fine print
@ The Savannah Community Theatre is holding auditions for the musical Hands of the Spirit Oct. 12–29, by appointment. Tom Coleman is looking for singers, dancers and actors age 18 and up. Give him a call at (912) 247–4644. It’s the story of visionary folk artist J.B. Murray, a poor, non–literate, elderly African American man who gets a calling from God to take a message to the world.
@ Guitarist Jackson Evans and his quintet will play the Coastal Jazz Association’s “Just Across the River” show Oct. 24 at the Westin Resort on Hutchinson Island.
