LaChanze

{{BLP sources section|date=January 2014}}

Born in St. Augustine, Florida, to Walter and Rosalie Sapp, Rhonda Sapp's stage name "LaChanze" (Creole: the charmed one) is taken from her grandmother. After moving to Connecticut, her childhood love of singing and dancing caused her mother to enroll her in the Bowen Peters Cultural Arts Center in New Haven. There she discovered her love for performing. At Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, LaChanze made her debut as Lola in the school production of Damn Yankees.

After high school, LaChanze studied drama at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, before transferring to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she studied Theater and Dance.

Her first summer job was as a tap dancer in the ensemble of Uptown... It's Hot! at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The show opened on Broadway in January 1986, where LaChanze began her professional career in the theater.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibdb.com/Production/View/4396 |title=Uptown...It's Hot |website=ibdb.com |access-date=March 19, 2016 }}

LaChanze played the role of Ti Moune in the Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty musical Once on This Island in 1990 and received nominations for the Tony Award as Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical at the 45th Tony Awards and the Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical.{{cite web |url=http://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/lachanze |title=LaChanze Career |website=masterworksbroadway.com |access-date=August 29, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=69942|title=Listing, see Awards|publisher=Internet Broadway Database|access-date=August 29, 2013}} In December 1998, she joined the cast of the Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Terrence McNally Broadway musical Ragtime, replacing Audra McDonald in the role of Sarah.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/42620-Bways-Ragtime-To-Get-All-New-Leads-Incl-Rubinstein-Alton-White-LaChanze|title=Bway's Ragtime To Get All-New Leads, Incl. Rubinstein, Alton White & LaChanze|author-last1=Lefkowitz|author-first1=David|author-last2=Viagas|author-first2=Robert|author-last3=Ehren|author-first3=Christine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403030258/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/42620-Bways-Ragtime-To-Get-All-New-Leads-Incl-Rubinstein-Alton-White-LaChanze |archive-date=April 3, 2012|website=playbill.com|date=December 18, 1998}} She played the role of Viveca in the Playwrights Horizons Off-Broadway production of the musical The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, which opened in June 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.lortel.org/lla_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=152|title=Listing|website=lortel.org|access-date=August 30, 2013}} She received a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, for her performance.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/60263-2001-Drama-Desk-Winners-Include-Producers-Proof-and-Mnemonic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020180633/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/60263-2001-Drama-Desk-Winners-Include-Producers-Proof-and-Mnemonic|archive-date=October 20, 2012|title=Drama Desk Winners Include Producers, Proof and Mnemonic|author-last1=Jones|author-first1=Kenneth|author-last2=Simonson|author-first2=Robert|website=playbill.com|date=May 20, 2001}} LaChanze participated in an Actors Fund of America benefit concert of Funny Girl, with many performers portraying the character of Fanny Brice, in September 2002.{{cite web|author-last=Simonson|author-first=Robert|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/72118-More-Fannys-LaChanze-Kayden-Murney-Join-Funny-Girl-Concert|title=More Fannys: LaChanze, Kayden, Murney Join Funny Girl Concert|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203217/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/72118-More-Fannys-LaChanze-Kayden-Murney-Join-Funny-Girl-Concert |archive-date=October 29, 2013|website=playbill.com|date=September 17, 2002}}

File:LaChanze, 2006 cropped.jpg

In 2005, LaChanze played Dessa Rose, a runaway slave in the Ahrens and Flaherty musical Dessa Rose. The musical opened Off-Broadway at the Mitzi Newhouse Theatre at Lincoln Center in March 2005.Simonson, Robert. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/91239-LaChanze-and-Rachel-York-Begin-Previews-in-Dessa-Rose-at-Mitzi-Newhouse-Feb-17 "LaChanze and Rachel York Begin Previews in 'Dessa Rose' at Mitzi Newhouse, Feb. 17"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212070438/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/91239-LaChanze-and-Rachel-York-Begin-Previews-in-Dessa-Rose-at-Mitzi-Newhouse-Feb-17 |date=December 12, 2013 }} February 17, 2005 LaChanze received an Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress for Dessa Rose.[http://www.villagevoice.com/obies/search "Search 2005"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530010535/http://www.villagevoice.com/obies/search/ |date=May 30, 2013 }} villagevoice.com, accessed August 29, 2013Simonson, Robert. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/92985-Shanley-Hughes-Culkin-Marvel-OConnell-Among-2005-Obie-Winners "Shanley, Hughes, Culkin, Marvel, O'Connell Among 2005 Obie Winners"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212070436/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/92985-Shanley-Hughes-Culkin-Marvel-OConnell-Among-2005-Obie-Winners |date=December 12, 2013 }} playbill.com, May 16, 2005 LaChanze appeared as Celie Harris Johnson in the Broadway musical The Color Purple, from its opening in 2005 to November 2006.Hernandez, Ernio. [https://archive.today/20130829152112/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/94798-LaChanze-Confirmed-as-Leading-Lady-of-Color-Purple-Musical-Broadway-Cast-Announced "LaChanze Confirmed as Leading Lady of 'Color Purple' Musical; Broadway Cast Announced"] playbill.com, September 7, 2005Hernandez, Ernio. [https://archive.today/20130829152128/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/102815-Tony-Winner-LaChanze-to-End-Her-Run-in-Broadways-The-Color-Purple-Nov-5 "Tony Winner LaChanze to End Her Run in Broadway's 'The Color Purple' Nov. 5"] playbill.com, October 18, 2006 She won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for this performance at the 60th Tony Awards.

In September 2008, LaChanze participated in the Boston Pops concert, Handel's Messiah Rocks at Emerson College. The performance was filmed by Public Broadcasting Service.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/121065-PBS-to-Film-LaChanze-Spencer-and-Boston-Pops-in-Handels-Messiah-Rocks PBS to Film LaChanze, Spencer and Boston Pops in Handel's Messiah Rocks"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204954/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/121065-PBS-to-Film-LaChanze-Spencer-and-Boston-Pops-in-Handels-Messiah-Rocks |date=October 29, 2013 }} playbill.com, September 5, 2008 She was in the Off-Broadway production of Inked Baby, written by Christina Anderson, which opened in March 2009 at Playwrights Horizons Peter Jay Sharp Theater.Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127550-Inked-Baby-Starring-LaChanze-Opens-March-23-in-NYC " 'Inked Baby', Starring LaChanze, Opens March 23 in NYC"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203534/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127550-Inked-Baby-Starring-LaChanze-Opens-March-23-in-NYC |date=October 29, 2013 }} playbill.com, March 23, 2009 In June and July 2009, she played the role of Glinda in the New York City Center Encores! staged Summer Stars concert production of The Wiz.{{cite web| last1=Gans |first1=Andrew |last2=Hetrick |first2=Adam | url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129006-Jones-LaChanze-Arnold-Lewis-Henry-and-More-Will-Join-Ashanti-in-The-Wiz | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130829152052/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129006-Jones-LaChanze-Arnold-Lewis-Henry-and-More-Will-Join-Ashanti-in-The-Wiz | url-status=dead | archive-date=2013-08-29 |title=Jones, LaChanze, Arnold, Lewis, Henry, and More Will Join Ashanti in The Wiz |work=playbill.com |date=May 7, 2009}}

LaChanze published her first picture book, Little Diva, in 2010. She was in the Broadway production of If/Then in 2014, starring as Kate. In 2018, she appeared in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway, playing Diva Donna/Mary Gaines, for which she received a Tony Award nomination at the 72nd Tony Awards. In 2019, she appeared in A Christmas Carol on Broadway, starring as the Ghost of Christmas Present.

In January 2022, LaChanze took a star turn on Broadway in Trouble in Mind, written by Alice Childress in 1955. She earned a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play nomination for her performance as Wiletta Mayer at the 75th Tony Awards.{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/trouble-in-mind-broadway-review-lachanze-alice-childress-michael-zegen-1234876184/ | title='Trouble in Mind' Broadway Review: LaChanze Leads Alice Childress Play to Overdue Triumph | date=November 19, 2021 }}

In 2022, LaChanze began her career as a Broadway producer. She produced Topdog/Underdog with David Stone, Rashad V. Chambers, Marc Platt, Debra Martin Chase, and the Shubert Organization.{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/suzan-lori-parks-topdog-underdog-broadway-corey-hawkins-yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-1235045303/ | title='Topdog/Underdog' Returning to Broadway with Corey Hawkins & Yahya Abdul-Mateen II | date=June 14, 2022 }} She also produced Kimberly Akimbo on Broadway with David Stone, Aaron Glick, Patrick Catullo and James L. Nederlander.{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/kimberly-akimbo-broadway-musical-fall-2022-victoria-clark-1234959737/ | title=Acclaimed off Broadway Musical 'Kimberly Akimbo' Plans Move to Broadway with Original Cast | date=February 25, 2022 }} She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play as a producer for Kimberly Akimbo and Topdog/Underdog on May 2, 2023. She was announced as a winner for both shows during the 76th Tony Awards telecast on June 11, 2023.{{Cite web |title=Tony Awards Winners: 'Kimberly Akimbo' Takes Best Musical; 'Leopoldstadt' Named Best Play – Complete List |date=June 12, 2023 |url=https://deadline.com/2023/06/2023-tony-award-winners-1235413480/}}

In 2022, she launched Tima Productions with friend and former Ragtime castmate Marylee Fairbanks.{{Cite news |author=Adri Pray |date=August 2, 2024 |title=Marylee Fairbanks, co-producer of award-winning 'The Outsiders,' is a multifaceted force |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/08/02/arts/marylee-fairbanks-the-outsiders-co-producer/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |language=en-US}} Together they co-produced The Outsiders, for which she won another Tony Award for Best Musical at the 77th Tony Awards. She also received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Play for Jaja's African Hair Brading at the same ceremony.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-13 |title=5 minutes with a Tony nominee: Producers LaChanze and Jamie Forshaw |url=https://www.broadwaynews.com/5-minutes-with-a-tony-nominee-producers-lachanze-and-jamie-forshaw/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Broadway News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Culwell-Block |first=Logan |date=June 16, 2024 |title=The Outsiders Wins Best Musical at the 2024 Tony Awards |url=https://playbill.com/article/the-outsiders-wins-best-musical-at-the-2024-tony-awards |website=Playbill}} In 2024 she launched a multimedia company called LC Productions.{{Cite web |last=Huston |first=Caitlin |date=2024-05-29 |title=LaChanze Launches Production Company for Theater and More |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/lachanze-launches-production-company-1235910673/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

LaChanze married securities trader Calvin Gooding in August 1998, two years after they met.{{cite news |title=911 Living Memorial: Calvin J. Gooding |publisher=Voices Center for Resilience |url=https://voicescenter.org/living-memorial/victim/calvin-j-gooding |access-date=2025-03-08 }} Together they had daughters Celia and Zaya, but when LaChanze was eight months pregnant with Zaya, Calvin was killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. He had been at work at Cantor Fitzgerald in Tower One of the World Trade Center.Gordon, Meryl. [http://nymag.com/news/articles/wtc/1year/widows.htm "The Lives Left Behind"] New York Magazine, accessed March 19, 2016

LaChanze remarried in 2005, to Derek Fordjour. They separated in 2013,{{cite news |author=Gioia, Michael |date=2014-06-18 |title="My If/Then Moment": LaChanze Recounts the Divine Intervention Leading Her to the 9/11 Memorial |publisher=Playbill |url=https://playbill.com/article/my-if-then-moment-lachanze-recounts-the-divine-intervention-leading-her-to-the-9-11-memorial-com-322641 |access-date=2025-03-08 }} and finalized their divorce on March 27, 2014, in Westchester County.

On September 6, 2002, LaChanze sang the National Anthem at a joint meeting of Congress in Federal Hall National Memorial, the first meeting of Congress in New York since 1790.{{Cite web |title=Joint Meeting of Congress |website=C-SPAN |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?172329-1/joint-meeting-congress |access-date=2024-02-09}}Lehrer, Sari. [http://nymag.com/weddings/album/2006summer/index3.html "Weddings"] New York Magazine, Summer 2006, retrieved August 29, 2013 On May 15, 2014, she performed "Amazing Grace" at the dedication of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, in tribute to her late husband.

In 2019, LaChanze and the elder of her two children, Celia Rose Gooding, simultaneously appeared on Broadway, with LaChanze starring in A Christmas Carol and Gooding starring in Jagged Little Pill.{{Cite web|title=Video: LaChanze & Celia Rose Gooding Are the First Mother/Daughter Duo On Broadway|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-LaChanze-Celia-Rose-Gooding-Are-the-First-MotherDaughter-Duo-On-Broadway-20191220|access-date=December 29, 2019|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en}} The two repeated the rare event of mother and child starring in simultaneous Broadway shows, following Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher in 1983.{{Cite news |last=Haun |first=Harry |date=2020-04-01 |title=From the Archives: When Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher Simultaneously Starred on Broadway |work=Playbill |url=https://playbill.com/article/when-debbie-reynolds-and-carrie-fisher-simultaneously-starred-on-broadway |access-date=2023-08-23 |quote="Now that Raquel Welch has left Woman of the Year, the part has passed along—with Einstein-like logic—to the ever-peppy Debbie Reynolds, who arrived in that title role last month almost by divine right. … [Simultaneously] her daughter, Carrie Fisher, is appearing on the other side of Broadway, at the Music Box in Agnes of God, which, like her mom's, is a Tony-winning role. … 'The two of us on Broadway at the same time—it's a whole new thought for me,' Debbie admits."}}{{Cite web |title=Agnes of God – Broadway Play – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/agnes-of-god-4166#Replacements |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=Internet Broadway Database |quote="Replacements: Carrie Fisher; Agnes; Jan 03, 1983 - Apr 10, 1983"}}{{Cite web |title=Woman of the Year – Broadway Musical – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/woman-of-the-year-4104#Replacements |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=Internet Broadway Database |quote=Replacements: Debbie Reynolds; Tess Harding; Feb 13, 1983 - Mar 13, 1983}}

Sources: The New York Times;[https://web.archive.org/web/20131030001735/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/363116/LaChanze-Sapp/filmography Filmography] The New York Times, accessed August 29, 2013 TCM[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/1397108%7C0/lachanze-sapp#filmography Filmography] tcm.com, accessed August 29, 2013

• Once On This Island (Original Broadway Cast Recording), 1990
• Disney's Princess Favorites, featured artist, 2002
• Dessa Rose (off-Broadway Cast Recording), 2005
• The Color Purple (Original Broadway Cast Recording), 2006
• Disney Collection 1, featured artist, 2006
• The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (Studio Cast Recording), 2007
• Handel's Messiah Rocks: A Joyful Noise, featured artist, 2009
• Nice Fighting You: A 30th Anniversary Celebration Live at 54 Below, featured on four songs, 2014
• If/Then (Original Broadway Cast Recording), 2014
• Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording), 2018

• September 6, 2002 - Federal Hall National Memorial
• 2008 - Handel's Messiah Rocks, Emerson College
• Dec 1 & 2, 2008 - Joe's Pub
• December 5, 2010 - Playhouse Square Center
• December 16, 2012 - Birdland
• May 15, 2014 - National September 11 Memorial and Museum
• February 13, 2015 - Kennedy Center
• 2016/17 - Feeling Good Tour

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• [https://soundcloud.com/american-theatre-wing/episode90 LaChanze] - Downstage Center interview at American Theatre Wing.org

{{TonyAward MusicalLeadActress 2001–2025}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lachanze}}

Category:1961 births

Category:20th-century African-American actresses

Category:20th-century American actresses

Category:21st-century African-American actresses

Category:21st-century American actresses

Category:Actresses from Connecticut

Category:Actresses from Florida

Category:20th-century African-American women singers

Category:20th-century American women singers

Category:20th-century American singers

Category:American women singers

Category:American musical theatre actresses

Category:Living people

Category:Morgan State University alumni

Category:People from St. Augustine, Florida

Category:Theatre World Award winners

Category:Tony Award winners

Category:University of the Arts (Philadelphia) alumni

Category:21st-century African-American people