Fantasia brings the green to 'Purple'

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
NEW YORK -- Fantasia Barrino's fans know the R & amp;B diva as a one-named wonder, Fantasia.
But around the hit Broadway musical "The Color Purple," the 22-year-old star could be called the 6 Million Woman.
That's how much dough has poured into the box office of the hit Oprah Winfrey-produced musical since Feb. 22, when it was announced that the "American Idol" winner would join the show April 10 in the starring role of Celie.
Fantasia is set to play the part for six months.
The whopping 6 million box-office bump didn't come as a shock to producer Scott Sanders, who suggested the third-season "Idol" champ to Winfrey. She loved the idea.
Like Celie, the character created by Alice Walker in her best-selling book, Fantasia has grappled with sexual abuse, illiteracy and being a single mom. She has a 5-year-old daughter.
The soulful singer from North Carolina had never seen a Broadway show before producers invited her to "The Color Purple."