Gender
Female
Born
Dec 16, 1961
St. Augustine, Florida, USA
Performer Producer Other
External Links
LaChanze's official website
Also Known As
LaChanze
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

FIND OUT WHERE

Search where R. Lachanze Sapp and
are credited together
search
are credited together