Deadline.com is reporting that Raven-Symoné, known most for starring on the Disney Channel's THATS SO RAVEN will take over for the Tony and Olivier nominated Patina Miller in Broadway's SISTER ACT. The web site reports that she will begin rehearsals at the end of February, and will debut at the end of March 2012 for a 6 month engagement in the show.
A spokesperson for SISTER ACT tells BroadwayWorld.com that "no future casting can be confirmed at this time."
Raven-Symoné began her singing career at the age of five, when she signed with MCA Records. She was the youngest artist ever to sign with a major record label. Her debut album Here’s To Knew Dreams was released on June 22, 1993. The album sprawled a hit single “That’s What Little Girls Are Made Of.” The single was written and produced by then unknown Missy Elliott. In 1993, Raven landed the role of Nicole Lee in the hit series Hanging With Mr. Cooper. Symoné co-stared on the series until it ended in 1997. During her time on the show, she had her first big screen role in the movie The Little Rascals, playing Stymie's girlfriend.
She was then cast in the Eddie Murphy comedy Dr. Dolittle (1998) and then Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) as Charisse Dolittle, the oldest daughter of Murphy's character. Meanwhile, she also appeared in Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999), which was her first production under the Disney umbrella. Soon after, Raven returned to music and recorded her second album Undeniable. The album which was recorded under her own label Ray-Blaze Records was released in May of 1999. That summer Raven spent her time touring with N*Sync as their opening act on their No Strings Attached tour.
In 2003, she starred as lead singer Galleria Garibaldi in the Disney Channel Original Movie, The Cheetah Girls. The movie centered four city girls who have dreams of becoming superstars. The movie was the channel's first musical and was the basis for another franchise, including dolls, video games, platinum-selling soundtracks and more. During her time on That‘s So Raven, Symoné provided the voice of Danielle in the comedy, Fat Albert. (2004) and also made an appearance in the film The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. (2004)
In early 2003, she signed a deal with Hollywood Records, a Disney-owned label. On September 21, 2004, she released her third studio album This Is My Time, which included the single "Backflip", which received heavy rotation on both Disney Channel, as well on BET and MTV. The album debuted and peaked at #51 on the Billboard 200 selling 19,000 copies in its first week of release and becoming her most successful album. Raven-Symoné also recorded music for That's So Raven's first original television soundtrack. The soundtrack debuted and peaked at #44 on the Billboard 200 and is now certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies.
During 2008 and 2009, Raven-Symoné provided her voice for the light-fairy in the Disney Fairies direct-to-DVD film series, Tinker Bell, and Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure. Raven-Symoné is expected to return to the franchise for the films, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue, Tinker Bell and the Mysterious Winter Woods, and Tinker Bell: Race Through the Seasons. Raven also appeared in Chris Rock’s 2009 documentary Good Hair.
In 2010, Raven-Symoné starred in an ABC Family, made-for-TV film, Revenge of the Bridesmaids. Revenge of the Bridesmaids surrounds two childhood friends who attempt to thwart the wedding of a no-good, money hungry ex-friend by going undercover as bridesmaids so that true love can prevail. The film garnered 2.5 million viewers on its premiere, making it the number 1 movie on basic cable in Women 18-34, and ranked among the Top 5 programs in its time period in Total Viewers that week. Due to the success of the film Raven was tapped by ABC Family to star in an original comedy series titled State of Georgia for the network which was cancelled in September of 2011.
SISTER ACT features an original score with music by multi-Academy, Grammy and Golden Globe Award-winning composer Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Enchanted), lyrics by Tony and Academy Award-nominee Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid), and a book by multi-Emmy Award winners Cheri and Bill Steinkellner ("Cheers") and Tony and Olivier Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu, The Little Dog Laughed). Directed on Broadway by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks (Guys and Dolls, A Funny Thing...Forum, Smokey Joe's Café), the production features choreography by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Anthony Van Laast(Mamma Mia, Bombay Dreams) and is based on the Touchstone Pictures motion picture Sister Act written by Joseph Howard.
