Virginia Woodruff Vocalist
Virginia Woodruff originated the role of Church Lade Darlene in Oprah Winfrey presents The Color Purple, and continues to appear in this same production. Ms. Woodruff performed in Broadway Divas under the direction of Jack Everly with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony, the Nashville Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the Milwaukee Symphony and the Memphis Symphony. Her Broadway credits include Smokey Joes Café, All Shook Up and The Color Purple. On national tour, Ms. Woodruff has appeared in The Who’s Tommy, Once on This Island, The Wiz and Smokey Joes Café. She also regionally appeared in Dreamgirls (Effie White), Beehive (Aretha Franklin and Patti Labelle), And the World Goes ‘Round, Once Upon A Mattress (Lady Larkin), Signed Sealed Delivered – The Music of Stevie Wonder, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Avenue X, The Wiz and Abyssinia.
Ms. Woodruff has had the privilege of performing with such recording artists as James Ingram, Patti Austin, Pebo Bryson, Luther Vandross, Chaka Kahn, Gloria Gaynor, Michael McDonald, Deborah Cox, Whitney Houston, Destiny’s Child, Petula Clark, Gladys Knight., Michael Bolton, Leslie Gore, Ben E. King, Ray Charles, Billy Porter (for the Inaugural Ceremonies of President Bill Clinton) and Liza Minnelli among others. She is a member of the Broadway Inspirational Voices, has a dance single, “Survive", and took part in the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Concert recorded for CBS in 2001.
Her film credits include Harlem Grace, Legally Blonde II, Preachin’ to the Choir and Jump the Broom (created and directed by Kena Tangi Dorsey). Ms. Woodruff’s television credits include Law and Order, The Tony Awards, Oprah Winfrey and the Rosie O’Donnell Show. She dedicates this performance to all those who inspire her to sing!
