Anika Noni Rose to Voice 'The Frog Princess' for Disney

E! Online reports that Anika Noni Rose has signed on to provide the voice of the title character in the upcoming Disney animated feature The Frog Princess.

CNN previously announced that the Walt Disney Company will make history by introducing its first black princess in the animated fairy tale.  Rose will voice the character of Maddy, the 19 year-old heroine of The Frog Princess.  The film, which will take place in 1920s New Orleans, was described by Disney chief creative officer John Lasseter as "an American fairy tale."  "The film's New Orleans setting and strong princess character give the film lots of excitement and texture," stated Dick Cook, Walt Disney Studios Chairman.

Randy Newman (Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Cars) will write the score.  Newman is also the composer/lyricist of the musical Faust.

While Disney Pixar films using computer-generated imagery have become popular in recent years, The Frog Princess will feature classic handdrawn animation.  John Musker and Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin), who co-wrote the film's story, will co-direct.

The Frog Princess will be released in theaters in 2009.  According to E! Online, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Tyra Banks had also tried out for the role of Maddy.

Rose won a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway musical Caroline, or Change.  Most recently, she starred opposite Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson in the film version of Dreamgirls.  The actress will soon be seen co-starring with Danny DeVito in the upcoming comedy feature One Part Sugar and has been filming The Starter Wife with Debra Messing, Joe Mantegna, and Miranda Otto to air on USA Networks in May of 2007.

Photo of Anika Noni Rose by Retna Ltd.