STAGES First there was Mos Def in "Topdog/Underdog." Then Russell Simmons brought the pain with "Def Poetry On Broadway." And Sean "P. Diddy" Combs" has outdone himself with his striking debut in the critically-acclaimed "A Raisin In The Sun."

Now comes news that Queen of hip-hop/soul Mary J. Blige may be on the Great White Way before we know it. Just so happens that since she got a thumbs up for her portrayal of Sunny Jacobs last fall in Off-Broadway's "The Exonerated," tongues behind the scenes in the theater world were wagging.

Hip-hop culture has revitalized the marketplace of fashion, film, television and of course recorded music. And now it has taken its stake on Broadway. It has been well documented how the Kenny Leon-directed "Raisin…" is doing big numbers at the box office. That's why Creative Battery --producers of the forthcoming theatrical adaptation of "A Color Purple"-- has set their sights on Ms. Blige.

"The RU Report" has learned that producers are eagerly pursuing the Grammy Award-winning music star to play the role of the sassy, sexually-liberated Shug Avery, replacing Adriane Lennox, who has done out of town workshops of the show and was prepared to make her long-overdue splash on Broadway. Apparently, it all boils down to the bottom line. And apparently, it may be well worth it.

I don't see, or rather I can't hear Mary J. playing Shug Avery. Erykah Badu? Maybe. Jill Scott? Moreso. I could hear her tearing up "God's Trying to Tell You Something" but Mary?

psykosoul said:

There's hope!

Mary possesses the same natural intensity as this role's requires. Plus, she was off the hook in her debut play ""The Exonerated" so I guess she may pull this through even tho I think this is a VERY tuff role to play.

BTW,,Mary could blow Erykah Badu off the map any damn minute of the day IMHO, sure she slides off-key many times but I take her over Erykah anyday when it comes to vocal abillity, range & mostly DEPTH.

I think Mary could possibly act her way through the part well, but when it comes to Shug Avery's key songs (that Tata Vega joint and the gospel number), I'd have to pray about that. Mary does have a tendency to (like my grandmama used to say) "do all that damn hollerin'"

that works for me. good luck to her.

psykosoul said:

Patti LaBelle is doing mo' of that recently,,,,oh well I guess you should work with what settles with you.

Harlepolis said:

yeah, yeah....but for this part....nah.....this wouldn't be good casting.....

BTW....erykah and mary...two different to compare....although I will say....i've never seen a bad erykah show and yet I've seen mary miss many a note and over sing. I love mary J and she remains the Queen of HIP HOP/R&B but.....not a good choice for Suge Avery....

i think mary should concentrate more on how to get her vocals straight for actual "live" singing instead of her acting career...