Wendy Williams is headed to Broadway. And fans of the popular personality will probably queue the 49th St. block to mimic her “How you doin?” mantra when she enters and exits the Ambassador theater.
The self-proclaimed ‘queen of all media’ will hike her title a notch by joining the cast of the hit Broadway musical, “Chicago.”
The 23-year veteran talk show host and reputed best-selling author will make her Broadway stage debut in the role of “the mistress of murderer’s row” — Matron “Mama” Morton. She has committed to a seven-week limited engagement, which will begin on June 25.
Williams is well-known as the gossipy afternoon radio personality whose HOT-97/KISS-FM broadcasts attracted huge listening audiences. After a brief hiatus, that show resurfaced as a nationally-syndicated, afternoon program which aired on the competitor Black-owned, WBLS-FM. While there, Williams penned books, produced her biopic (which stars Robin Givens but to date has not been released) and hosted party events. Currently the host of her own daily, television show, producers claim “The Wendy Williams Show,” airs in 52 countries. Now in its fourth season, it has been renewed on Fox through 2014.
Reportedly, the New York Post described her as “daytime TV’s favorite guilty pleasure,” due to her interviews with A-list celebrity guests, frank advice to fans and candid perspective which seems to appeal to her studio audiences. She was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame – one of only a handful of women with that honor. Williams could not be accused of being timid, despite limited skills in athletics, she competed on “Dancing With The Stars.”
To her credit she has hosted Game Show Network’s original series “Love Triangle,” and appeared as a featured guest on the soap opera “One Life to Live” and Lifetime TV’s “Drop Dead Diva.”
Last year, Williams made her major motion picture debut in Steve Harvey’s release of “Think Like a Man.”
And for two consecutive years, trade publication The Hollywood Reporter listed her one of their “35 Most Powerful People in Media.”
Williams is the author of The New York Times best sellers – “The Wendy Williams Experience” as well as several novels including “Ritz Harper Goes to Hollywood” and will release her sixth book titled “Ask Wendy” on May 7.
She also contributes a regular celebrity hot topics column to an entertainment magazine. Williams’ seven-week summer engagement at the Ambassador Theater will end on Aug. 11.
