There won't be a big Broadway debut for Grammy Award winner Mya anytime soon. Lil mama, who was scheduled to begin performances in the Tony-winning revival of
Chicago May 12, has been postponed due to the singer broken foot, according to a statement released by the producer of
Chicago. Barry Weissler, producer of
Chicago, said in the statement, "In the theatre industry, we are sometimes forced to deal with circumstances beyond our control. But speaking for the entire
Chicago creative team, we all wish her a speedy recovery, and look forward to experiencing her portrayal of Velma Kelly as soon as possible." Mýa's association with the razzle-dazzle world of
Chicago dates back to 2003 when she played Mona in the Rob Marshall-directed film version of
Chicago.
A Washington, DC, native Mya made a splash with her 1998 debut album,
Mýa, which yielded three top 10 singles:
It's All About Me,
Movin' On and
My First Night with You. Her second CD was titled
Fear of Flying. In 2001 Mya joined Lil' Kim, Pink, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliot to record
Lady Marmalade for the
Moulin Rouge soundtrack, which won a Grammy Award. Her third solo recording,
Moodring, featured the hits My Love Is Like...Wo and
Fallen. In 2005 the singer founded TMATF: The Mya Arts & Tech Foundation, which is dedicated to "providing disadvantaged youth growth and opportunity through arts and technology education."
Chicago won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 1997 as well as awards for actors Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton, director Walter Bobbie, lighting designer Ken Billington and choreographer Ann Reinking. The original production was directed and choreographed by the late Bob Fosse.
R&B singer India.Arie will bring her talent to the Great White Way this summer in the first Broadway revival of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf. Whoopi Goldberg and DreamTeam Entertainment Group will serve as executive producers of the work, which is based on Ntozake Shange's book of the same name and presents the stories of seven women of color from the African Diaspora. Arie, born India Arie Simpson, will head the company at a theatre to be announced this summer. Shirley Jo Finney will direct the production, while Tony winner Hinton Battle has signed on as choreographer. Previews of the Obie-winning drama will begin on or about July 15 with an opening on or about Aug. 2, according to Playbill News. The supporting cast and its home theater have yet to be announced. 
According to Broadway.com, actor-model Boris Kodjoe will assume the role of Brick in the Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof during a six-week-long movie-related leave of absence by Terrence Howard. Howard, who is currently in previews in Debbie Allen's production of the Tennessee Williams classic, will be out from April 15 to May 22 and will return on May 23. The limited engagement of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is now scheduled to run at the Broadhurst Theatre through June 15. Opening night is March 6. In addition to Howard, the cast of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof includes Phylicia Rashad as Big Mama, James Earl Jones as Big Daddy and Anika Noni Rose as Brick's unhappy wife, Maggie "the Cat," with Lisa Arrindell Anderson, Giancarlo Esposito, Count Stovall and Lou Myers.
First there was Vanessa Williams, Toni Braxton, Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams, Usher, Fantasia and now comes Mya. This spring the R&B singer will make her Broadway debut in the long-running revival of Chicago, according to producers. The sexy songstress will lend her vocal talents to the role of Velma Kelly, the cohort of Roxie Hart, played currently by stage veteran Bianca Marroquin. "It's something I always wanted to do; sing, dance, act and tell a story," Mya tells the Associated Press. "It's probably the ultimate complete dream for me." Mya is reportedly going through a strenuous workout plan, which includes cardio, muscle strengthening, and stretching to get ready for her new part. "I have gone through all the material with the show's musical director and everything is suited for my key," she said. "We don't have to do any transposing. It's perfect."
