Michelle Williams in Fela

February 11, 2013 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Chicago native and R&B recording star Michelle Williams has joined the touring production of the award-winning Broadway musical Fela.

Williams will be playing the role of Sandra Isadore, activist and love interest to Fela Kuti. FELA! is thrilled to return to Chicago for six performances only February 19  23, 2013 at the Arie Crown Theater (2301 South Lake Shore Drive).

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
The Chicago performance schedule for FELA! is as follows:
Tuesday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 22 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 23 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets for FELA! range from $20-$70. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com and the Arie Crown Theater Box Office (2301 South Lake Shore Drive). Group Sales are available at the Arie Crown Theater Box Office at 312.791.6320 with $5.00 off per ticket for groups of 20+ (excluding Saturday evening and the fourth price level for each performance). For more information on FELA!, visit www.felaonbroadway.com.

Fela! received three 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Choreography. A triumphant and inspirational tale of courage, passion and love, Fela! is the true story of Kuti, who created a type of music, Afrobeat, and mixed these pounding eclectic rhythms (a blend of jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies) with rousing lyrics that openly attacked the corrupt and oppressive military dictatorships that ruled Nigeria and much of Africa. Featuring many of Fela Kuti's most captivating songs and Bill T. Jones's visionary staging, the global phenomenon that is Fela! reveals Kuti's controversial life as an artist and political activist, while at the same time celebrating his pioneering music and commitment to the cause of universal human dignity.

More about Michelle Williams:
A multi-award winning international singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress, Michelle Williams is best known as a member of the record-breaking R&B and Pop sensation, Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling female groups of all time. Born and raised in the small Chicago suburb of Rockford, Ill., Michelle always dreamed of a life on stage. Fiercely guided by her faith and raised with a strong family core, Michelle was certain that one day she'd be a superstar. During her teenage years, she directed church and community choirs; a platform that not only served to develop her distinct voice but also her independence and dexterity as an artist. Throughout her career in Destiny's Child, Michelle explored solo terrain by releasing two gospel recordings: the award-winning "Heart To Yours" (2002), which featured a collaboration with the legendary Shirley Caesar, and "Do You Know" (2004). At the end of 2008, Michelle joined forces with producer Rico Love and created a fresh and innovative sound on her dance/pop album, "Unexpected." The first single released from the album, "We Break the Dawn," quickly became a huge club hit, topping the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play and Hot Dance Airplay charts. For fans of her subtle and smooth work in Destiny's Child, as well as her soul-stirring spiritual solo work, this was a brand-new Michelle Williams. In between recordings and concert tours, Michelle has conquered yet another challenging mountain as an actress. First, she took the reins of Broadway's Aida in 2003 to critical acclaim and audience raves. Then, in 2006, she took to the television screen for a hotly touted, ground-breaking multi-episode run in the popular UPN sitcom "Half & Half," where she played the role of Naomi, a record company executive who is HIV-positive. Later that year, she was featured on FOX's successful "Celebrity Duets" series.

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