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Photo Coverage: Fantasia's Broadway Debut Celebration

A party celebrating the Broadway debut of "American Idol" star Fantasia Barrino in the hit musical The Color Purple was held at Spotlight Live in Times Square on April 22nd.

Barrino made Broadway debut in the starring role of Celie in The Color Purple on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 7pm, at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). Since Barrino's May 2004 victory in "American Idol"'s Third Season, she has released two successful albums, Free Yourself and Fantasia, and has been nominated for awards as diverse as Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, Vibe Awards, BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and many more. She also authored the New York Times best-selling autobiography Life Is Not A Fairy Tale and starred in The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairytale, a Lifetime original movie adaptation of her memoir, in August 2006. The biopic became Lifetime's Second Most Watched Movie, garnering 2007 NAACP Image Award Nominations for Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special and Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special. Last night, Barrino became the first ever "American Idol" winner to star in a Broadway show.

The Color Purple, based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and Steven Spielberg's Academy Award-nominated film, recently announced its first North American Tour, which kicks off in Chicago on April 17, 2007 at The Cadillac Palace Theatre. The show, which follows a woman overcoming adversity over many years early in the 20th century, earned eleven 2006 Tony nominations and has grossed over $60 million in ticket sales since its first preview on November 1, 2005.

Tickets are $116.25 - $26.25 and are available online at Telecharge.com, by calling (212) 239-6200, or at The Broadway Theatre Box Office, 1681 Broadway at 53rd Street. Visit www.colorpurple.com for more information.

Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

Ricky Smith

NaTasha Yvette Williams

Chaz Lamar Shepherd

NaTasha Yvette Williams and Chaz Lamar Shepherd

Krisha Marcano

Renee Elise Goldsberry and Krisha Marcano

Renee Elise Goldsberry

Elisabeth Withers-Mendes

Gayle King

Gayle King and Fantasia Barrino

Fantasia Barrino

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As a 14 year old youth, Walter was transfixed by his first Broadway Show, the original production of 'GREASE'. His Journey to celebrity photojournalism began that fateful night. Meeting, photographing and getting to know the cast inspired him to spend his professional life doing what he loved. Walter moved to Manhattan and for a leading role as a Photographer & Photo Researcher. Currently headlining in New Jersey with his partner Richard and family members Dali (Jack Russell) & Gala (Schnoodle). Recently he made his Broadway debut sharing the stage with Hugh Jackman in 'Hugh Jackman on Broadway' as well as receiving the Actors' Equity Association Gypsy Spirit Award. Walter McBride Photography is syndicated worldwide by Corbis/AP.

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