Gender
Female
Born
Dec 16, 1961
St. Augustine, Florida, USA
Performer Producer Other
External Links
LaChanze's official website
Also Known As
R. Lachanze Sapp
Rhonda Sapp
Relations
Wife of
Calvin Gooding (1998 - 2001) his death
Wife of
Derek Fordjour (2005 - 2014) divorced
Mother of
Celia Rose Gooding
  • CREDITS
    Buena Vista Social Club (Mar 19, 2025 - )
    • Produced by LaChanze
    MusicalOriginal
    Purpose (Mar 2025 - )
    • Produced by LaChanze
    PlayOriginal
    Jaja's African Hair Braiding (Oct 03, 2023 - Nov 19, 2023)
    • Produced by LaChanze
    PlayOriginal
    Here Lies Love (Jul 20, 2023 - Nov 26, 2023)
    • Co-Produced by LaChanze
    MusicalOriginal
    Kimberly Akimbo (Nov 10, 2022 - Apr 28, 2024)
    • Produced by LaChanze
    MusicalOriginal
    Topdog / Underdog (Oct 20, 2022 - Jan 15, 2023)
    • Produced by LaChanze
    PlayComedyDramaRevival
    Trouble in Mind (Nov 18, 2021 - Jan 09, 2022)
    • Starring: LaChanze [Wiletta Mayer]
    PlayOriginal
    A Christmas Carol (Nov 20, 2019 - Jan 05, 2020)
    • Also Starring: LaChanze [Ghost of Christmas Present/Mrs. Fezziwig]
    PlayPlay with musicOriginal
    Summer (Apr 23, 2018 - Dec 30, 2018)
    • Starring: LaChanze [Diva Donna/Mary Gaines]
    MusicalOriginal
    If/Then (Mar 30, 2014 - Mar 22, 2015)
    • Also Starring: LaChanze [Kate]
    MusicalOriginal
    The Color Purple (Dec 01, 2005 - Feb 24, 2008)
    • Starring: LaChanze
      • Celie - (Nov 01, 2005 - Nov 05, 2006)
    MusicalDramaOriginal
    Ragtime (Jan 18, 1998 - Jan 16, 2000)
    • Starring: LaChanze
      • Sarah - Replacement (Dec 29, 1998 - Sep 1999)
    MusicalDramaOriginal
    Company (Oct 05, 1995 - Dec 03, 1995)
    • Starring: LaChanze [Marta]
    MusicalDramaRevival
    Once on This Island (Oct 18, 1990 - Dec 01, 1991)
    • Performer: LaChanze [Ti Moune]
    MusicalOriginal
    Dreamgirls (Jun 28, 1987 - Nov 29, 1987)
    • Performer: R. Lachanze Sapp [One of "The Stepp Sisters", One of "Les Style", Ensemble]
    • Understudy: R. Lachanze Sapp [Deena Jones, Michelle Morris]
    MusicalRevival
    Uptown...It's Hot! (Jan 29, 1986 - Feb 16, 1986)
    • Performer: R. Lachanze Sapp [Ensemble]
    MusicalRevueOriginal
    Kimberly Akimbo (Sep 14, 2024 - Present)
    • Produced by LaChanze
    MusicalOriginal
    If/Then (Oct 13, 2015 - Aug 14, 2016)
    • Also Starring: LaChanze
      • Kate - (Oct 13, 2015 - Jan 24, 2016)
      • Kate - Replacement (Jun 07, 2016 - Jun 12, 2016)
    MusicalOriginal
    Ragtime - Chicago (Oct 27, 1998 - Jun 27, 1999)
    • Starring: LaChanze
      • Sarah - (Oct 27, 1998 - Dec 1998)
    MusicalSit-DownOriginal
    Ragtime - Los Angeles (May 29, 1997 - Apr 12, 1998)
    • Starring: LaChanze [Sarah]
    MusicalSit-DownOriginal
    Dreamgirls (Oct 08, 1985 - Jun 14, 1987)
    • Performer: R. Lachanze Sapp
      • One of "Les Style" -
      • Ensemble -
      • One of "The Stepp Sisters" - Replacement
    • Understudy: R. Lachanze Sapp [Deena Jones, Michelle Morris]
    MusicalRevival
    Funny Girl (Sep 23, 2002 - Sep 23, 2002)
    • Starring: LaChanze [Fanny Brice]
    SpecialBenefit ConcertRevival
    Once on This Island (May 12, 2002 - May 12, 2002)
    • Starring: LaChanze [Ti Moune]
    • In honor of LaChanze
    SpecialBenefitRevival
  • AWARDS

    Tony Award®

     

    Best Play

    2024 | Nominee  | Jaja's African Hair Braiding
    Produced by LaChanze

    Best Musical

    2023 | Winner  | Kimberly Akimbo
    Produced by LaChanze

    Best Revival of a Play

    2023 | Winner  | Topdog / Underdog
    Produced by LaChanze
     

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

    2022 | Nominee  | Trouble in Mind
    Starring: LaChanze
     

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

    2018 | Nominee  | Summer
    Starring: LaChanze

    Best Actress in a Musical

    2006 | Winner  | The Color Purple
    Starring: LaChanze
     

    Best Featured Actress in a Musical

    1991 | Nominee  | Once on This Island
    Performer: LaChanze

    Drama Desk Award

     

    Outstanding Play

    2024 | Nominee  | Jaja's African Hair Braiding
    Produced by LaChanze
     

    Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

    2020 | Nominee
    LaChanze (for "The Secret Life of Bees")
     

    Outstanding Actress in a Musical

    2018 | Nominee  | Summer
    Starring: LaChanze
     

    Outstanding Actress in a Musical

    2005 | Nominee
    LaChanze (for "Dessa Rose")
     

    Outstanding Actress in a Musical

    2001 | Nominee
    LaChanze (for "Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin")
     

    Outstanding Actress in a Musical

    1991 | Nominee  | Once on This Island
    Performer: LaChanze

    Theatre World

    Award

    1991 | Recipient  | Once on This Island
    Performer: LaChanze
Buena Vista Social Club (Mar 19, 2025 - )
  • Produced by LaChanze
MusicalOriginal
Purpose (Mar 2025 - )
  • Produced by LaChanze
PlayOriginal
Jaja's African Hair Braiding (Oct 03, 2023 - Nov 19, 2023)
  • Produced by LaChanze
PlayOriginal
Here Lies Love (Jul 20, 2023 - Nov 26, 2023)
  • Co-Produced by LaChanze
MusicalOriginal
Kimberly Akimbo (Nov 10, 2022 - Apr 28, 2024)
  • Produced by LaChanze
MusicalOriginal
Topdog / Underdog (Oct 20, 2022 - Jan 15, 2023)
  • Produced by LaChanze
PlayComedyDramaRevival
Trouble in Mind (Nov 18, 2021 - Jan 09, 2022)
  • Starring: LaChanze [Wiletta Mayer]
PlayOriginal
A Christmas Carol (Nov 20, 2019 - Jan 05, 2020)
  • Also Starring: LaChanze [Ghost of Christmas Present/Mrs. Fezziwig]
PlayPlay with musicOriginal
Summer (Apr 23, 2018 - Dec 30, 2018)
  • Starring: LaChanze [Diva Donna/Mary Gaines]
MusicalOriginal
If/Then (Mar 30, 2014 - Mar 22, 2015)
  • Also Starring: LaChanze [Kate]
MusicalOriginal
The Color Purple (Dec 01, 2005 - Feb 24, 2008)
  • Starring: LaChanze
    • Celie - (Nov 01, 2005 - Nov 05, 2006)
MusicalDramaOriginal
Ragtime (Jan 18, 1998 - Jan 16, 2000)
  • Starring: LaChanze
    • Sarah - Replacement (Dec 29, 1998 - Sep 1999)
MusicalDramaOriginal
Company (Oct 05, 1995 - Dec 03, 1995)
  • Starring: LaChanze [Marta]
MusicalDramaRevival
Once on This Island (Oct 18, 1990 - Dec 01, 1991)
  • Performer: LaChanze [Ti Moune]
MusicalOriginal
Dreamgirls (Jun 28, 1987 - Nov 29, 1987)
  • Performer: R. Lachanze Sapp [One of "The Stepp Sisters", One of "Les Style", Ensemble]
  • Understudy: R. Lachanze Sapp [Deena Jones, Michelle Morris]
MusicalRevival
Uptown...It's Hot! (Jan 29, 1986 - Feb 16, 1986)
  • Performer: R. Lachanze Sapp [Ensemble]
MusicalRevueOriginal
Kimberly Akimbo (Sep 14, 2024 - Present)
  • Produced by LaChanze
MusicalOriginal
If/Then (Oct 13, 2015 - Aug 14, 2016)
  • Also Starring: LaChanze
    • Kate - (Oct 13, 2015 - Jan 24, 2016)
    • Kate - Replacement (Jun 07, 2016 - Jun 12, 2016)
MusicalOriginal
Ragtime - Chicago (Oct 27, 1998 - Jun 27, 1999)
  • Starring: LaChanze
    • Sarah - (Oct 27, 1998 - Dec 1998)
MusicalSit-DownOriginal
Ragtime - Los Angeles (May 29, 1997 - Apr 12, 1998)
  • Starring: LaChanze [Sarah]
MusicalSit-DownOriginal
Dreamgirls (Oct 08, 1985 - Jun 14, 1987)
  • Performer: R. Lachanze Sapp
    • One of "Les Style" -
    • Ensemble -
    • One of "The Stepp Sisters" - Replacement
  • Understudy: R. Lachanze Sapp [Deena Jones, Michelle Morris]
MusicalRevival
Funny Girl (Sep 23, 2002 - Sep 23, 2002)
  • Starring: LaChanze [Fanny Brice]
SpecialBenefit ConcertRevival
Once on This Island (May 12, 2002 - May 12, 2002)
  • Starring: LaChanze [Ti Moune]
  • In honor of LaChanze
SpecialBenefitRevival

Tony Award®

 

Best Play

2024 | Nominee  | Jaja's African Hair Braiding
Produced by LaChanze

Best Musical

2023 | Winner  | Kimberly Akimbo
Produced by LaChanze

Best Revival of a Play

2023 | Winner  | Topdog / Underdog
Produced by LaChanze
 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

2022 | Nominee  | Trouble in Mind
Starring: LaChanze
 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

2018 | Nominee  | Summer
Starring: LaChanze

Best Actress in a Musical

2006 | Winner  | The Color Purple
Starring: LaChanze
 

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

1991 | Nominee  | Once on This Island
Performer: LaChanze

Drama Desk Award

 

Outstanding Play

2024 | Nominee  | Jaja's African Hair Braiding
Produced by LaChanze
 

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

2020 | Nominee
LaChanze (for "The Secret Life of Bees")
 

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

2018 | Nominee  | Summer
Starring: LaChanze
 

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

2005 | Nominee
LaChanze (for "Dessa Rose")
 

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

2001 | Nominee
LaChanze (for "Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin")
 

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

1991 | Nominee  | Once on This Island
Performer: LaChanze

Theatre World

Award

1991 | Recipient  | Once on This Island
Performer: LaChanze

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