'REAL HOUSEWIFE' Kandi Burruss to Join Cast of Off-Broadway's NEWSICAL THE MUSICAL, 1/13

Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter and reality television star Kandi Burruss joins the cast of off Broadway's smash comedy NEWSical The Musical for two weeks, beginning Monday, January 13th. NEWSical The Musical is the forever changing, completely un-sanitized musical mockery of all the news that's fit to spoof. From Honey Boo Boo to selfies, Pope Francis to Miley Cyrus, marriage equality to Obamacare, NEWSical The Musical sets all of today's biggest pop culture headlines to song. NEWSical The Musical plays daily (except Wednesdays) at Theatre Row on 42nd Street. Kandi Burruss' final performance will be Sunday, January 26th.

"42nd street will be sweeter than ever when Kandi arrives in January," predicts the show's producer, Tom D'Angora. "She's a quadruple threat: a television personality, award winning singer-songwriter, record producer and actress!"

"I am thrilled to join the cast of NEWSical The Musical," says Kandi Burruss from her home in Atlanta. "Having just come off of my own musical production, NEWSical The Musical furthers my journey in entertainment to, simultaneously, do more of what I love: act and sing."

"Being a part of an illustrious list of stars that have previously joined the show is an honor," she adds.

Kandi Burruss is the latest star to grace the NEWSical The Musical stage. Previously, celebrity gossip guru Perez Hilton joined the show for a limited run, as did Broadway's original Annie, Andrea McArdle, Saturday Night Live's Cheri Oteri, Carson Kressley, Jackée Harry, and most recently, La Toya Jackson.

Ms. Burruss is more than a fan favorite on Bravo's #1 Housewives show, The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She first hit the world stage as a member of the multi-platinum-selling R&B group Xscape. After the group disbanded, she began writing and producing music, penning hits for music's best, including Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, and Pink.

She elevated Destiny's Child star status, writing their #1 hits "Bug A Boo" and "Bills, Bills, Bills". In 2000, she won the Grammy Award for "Best R&B Song" with "No Scrubs", performed by TLC. That same year, she won ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year award, becoming the first African-American woman ever to win the prestigious honor.

In 2009, Burruss joined the cast of Bravo's The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Since then, she has catapulted her success into creating and executive producing her own TV show on Bravo, The Kandi Factory, as well as an online weekly relationship show, Kandi Koated Nights, and a top-selling iTunes app, Kandi Koated Spades.

She is the owner of two trendy Atlanta boutiques, T.A.G.S. and T.A.G.S.II and has licensed two other locations in Augusta and Las Vegas. She also owns an intimate toy line, "Bedroom Kandi," that has expanded to become "Bedroom Kandi Boutique Parties" with consultants across the country.

NEWSical The Musical features Christine Pedi (Chicago, Sirius XM Host, Talk Radio), Michael West (When Pigs Fly, Forbidden Broadway), Susan Mosher (Hairspray, Suds), David Foley Jr., Meg Lanzarone, and Dylan H. Thompson.

Rick Crom is the show's creator and writer. He has appeared on Broadway in Urinetown, Footloose and The Goodbye Girl. On television, Crom appeared on FX's critically acclaimed series Louie starring comedian Louis C.K.

NEWSical The Musical is directed by Mark Waldrop (When Pigs Fly, My Deah, Inventing Avi, Papermill Playhouse's Gypsy) and produced by Tom D'Angora (Naked Boys Singing!, ICONS, Broadway Diva Christmas, Divas I've Done). Rounding out the creative team are Ed Goldschneider (music director), Jason Courson (set designer), Chadd McMillan (costumes) and Krystal Roccaro (stage manager).

The Associated Press calls NEWSical The Musical "The Daily Show set to music". It was named Best New Musical of 2011 by the Off Broadway Alliance for its infectious melodies, razor-sharp lyrics, biting satire and having more unpredictability than a Courtney Love tweet.

NEWSical The Musical plays at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Show times are Monday 8:15pm, Tuesday 8:15pm, Thursday 8:15pm, Friday 8:15pm, Saturday 3pm & 8:15pm, Sunday 3pm & 7:30pm. Tickets are $90 - $110 and can be purchased through Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250. For performance schedule and more information visit www.NEWSicalthemusical.com.