Kandi Burruss is as sweet as her name. The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member started a two-week run on Jan. 13 in the off-Broadway smash comedy “NEWSical the Musical.” The play is the forever changing musical mockery of all the news that’s fit to spoof. “NEWSical the Musical” plays daily, except for Wednesdays, at Theatre Row on 42nd Street.
“I am thrilled to join the cast of NEWSical the Musical’” said Burruss. “Having just come off my own musical production, ‘NEWSical the Musical’ furthers my journey in entertainment to simultaneously do more of what I love—act and sing.”
The very sweet and forthcoming former member of the R&B group Xscape told the Amsterdam News that she is excited about working in New York City.
“I wanted to do something different,” says Burruss. “This will be great. I haven’t performed here for a long period of time. I just finished doing a play, which I produced and starred in, called ‘A Mother’s Love.’ It was a musical based on my life. It wasn’t comedy at all. It had a lot to do with the situation with my mother.”
It is well known that Burruss has seemingly neverending problems with her mother, Joyce Jones. The conflict between the two of them has been one of the main plots of the current season of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” so much so that many fans have wondered whether their challenges are scripted.
Regarding the conflict, Burruss said, “That is all real, totally real. It goes on whether the cameras are on or they’re not around. During the hiatus, I tried to go to counseling with my mother, but things got worse and worse. Life is still going on, even if we’re not taping anymore. Before the holidays, we hadn’t talked in three weeks. Right before Christmas, she called me.”
One of Jones’ pet peeves with her daughter is Burruss’ fiancé, Todd Tucker. The delightful singer/producer cleared up rumors that have been circulating on the blogosphere claiming the two of them are married after photos were posted of a wedding scene while they were vacationing in the Caribbean.
“No, we’re not married,” says Burruss. “Todd was being funny. The hotel resort had a wedding set up for someone else, not for us.”
As for when they are actually going to tie the knot, all Burruss would tell the AmNews is “soon.”
But for the next couple of weeks, this dynamic and prolific entertainer—who penned hits for Destiny’s Child, TLC, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey and Pink—plans to focus on “NEWSical the Musical,” take some business meetings and spend time with old friends while she is in New York.
“42nd Street will be sweeter than ever when Kandi arrives in January,” predicted the show’s producer, Tom D’Angora. “She’s a triple threat: a television personality, award-winning singer-songwriter, record producer and actress.”
Burruss’ final performance will be Sunday, Jan. 26. For more information, visit www.newsicalthemusical.net.