Aretha Franklin Wants to Star in Broadway's AFTER MIDNIGHT

According to the New York Post's Michael Riedel, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin wants to try her hand at musical theater by making her Broadway debut in the Tony-nominated production of After Midnight.

Franklin shared her wish personally with Riedlel at a dinner hosted by record producer Clive Davis on Saturday, May 24th, saying that she saw the show and fell in love with it. This would be the second time the 'Respect' singer has considered a run on Broadway. Several years back she came close to taking on the role of Fela Kuti's mother in 'Fela!".

However, Franklin does have one stipulation before she would sign on to 'After Midnight' - she is not willing to take on the grueling eight performances a week schedule. She would however agree to take the stage three, maybe four times a week. Of course this may create a sticky situation for producers who would most likely be able to fill the seats of the Brooks Atkinson theater when Franklin was on, but would no doubt have trouble selling tickets for the other performances.

Riedel offers his own solution to this dilemma - have another fabulous diva take over the role for the alternate nights, perhaps someone like mega-star Diana Ross. The former 'Supreme' previously considered a Broadway run and had discussions with the Nederlanders to do a one-woman show, similar to Lena Horne's "The Lady and Her Music."

This summer, powerhouse divas Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle and Natalie Cole will join the cast of 'After Midnight.' Who would you like to see on tap for the fall?

About After Midnight

Producers Scott Sanders and Wynton Marsalis present After Midnight, directed and choreographed byWarren Carlyleand featuring the big-band sounds of nine-time Grammy Award-winner Wynton Marsalis' Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars, After Midnight began previews on Friday, October 18, 2013 at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 W 47th St) and officially opened tonight, November 3, 2013.

The evocative After Midnight will take the sexy, smoky glamour of the original Jazz Age and catapult it into a whole new era of heart-pounding, mind-blowing entertainment for modern Broadway audiences. Refracted through a contemporary lens, After Midnight will celebrateDuke Ellington's years at the Cotton Club using his original arrangements and performed by a world-class big band of 17 musicians hand-picked by living jazz legend, Wynton Marsalis. The timeless tunes set against a narrative of Langston Hughes poetry will provide an authentic backdrop for an array of cutting-edge performances by 25 sensational vocalists and dancers, including special guest stars, whose interpretations will shatter everything you think you know about music, nightlife and Broadway.