Ashanti has lead role in musical 'The Wiz' in N.Y.
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Singer Ashanti is set to play Dorothy in the musical "The Wiz," which will run in New York this summer, according to several published reports.
The musical, which made its Broadway debut in 1975, won seven Tony Awards and was made into a movie in 1978. Quincy Jones produced the movie's soundtrack, Michael Jackson played the Scarecrow and Diana Ross was Dorothy.
The show is based on the book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. It will run from June 12 through July 5 at New York City Center.
MEGAN FOX MOST-SEARCHED-FOR WOMAN
Chickipedia.com, a wiki-based database of famous women, named the Top 100 most-searched-for women on its site for April.
The following are the 10 women searched for the most: Megan Fox, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Alba, Denise Milani, Lucy Pinder, Scarlett Johansson, Keeley Hazell, Pamela Anderson, Jessica Biel and Emma Watson.
New to the list was pop star Lady Gaga, who debuted at No. 22.
SHOCKUMENTARY WINS TRIBECA AWARD
"Midgets vs. Mascots," a shockumentary in which little people and mascots battle for $1 million in outrageous competitions, finished third in voting for the Heineken Audience Award at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.
Among the stars of "Midgets" — described as filmed in a style similar to "Borat" — is former child actor Gary Coleman.
The film's "hilarity and raunch ... struck a chord with TFF audiences," prompting a fifth screening, according to the festival's Web site. The award is determined by audience voting throughout the New York film festival, which has entries from 36 countries.
COMIC ARRESTED IN DOMESTIC ABUSE CASE
Standup comic Robert Schimmel was arrested Saturday on suspicion of beating his wife.
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies said the comedian, 59, was taken into custody after an alleged fight at his home. Schimmel was booked in the county jail and later released on $50,000 bail.
The comedian has been a frequent guest on Conan O'Brien's TV show and on Howard Stern's radio program. His 2008 memoir, "Cancer on $5 a Day" chronicles his battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
'WOLVERINE' CLAWS WAY TO TOP OF HEAP
Hugh Jackman's movie prequel "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" leaped past all other films for an $87 million opening weekend. "Wolverine" pulled in an additional $73 million overseas.
Its debut in Mexico was delayed for two weeks because of the swine flu outbreak there. The trilogy's final chapter, "X-Men: The Last Stand," had the franchise's best opening with $102.8 million.
Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner's romantic comedy "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" debuted in second place with $15.3 million.
Also in the top five: "Obsessed," "17 Again" and "Monsters vs. Aliens."