IN THE STREETS & ON THE WEB

Fantasia Returning To Broadway In "After Midnight"

Fantasia Barrino’s Broadway co-stars should get ready for a lot more Fantasia — we’re told the “American Idol” alum is planning something very revealing during her upcoming run in “After Midnight.”

“She was in rehearsals and talking to the others in the play, and all of a sudden she laughs and announces ‘I don’t want anyone to be shocked by this, but I like to open my dressing room door naked,’ ” a source tells Confidenti@l. “She is so friendly and everyone gets along; it was just a bit of a shocker, but it seemed she was being completely serious.”

Barrino is returning to Broadway in the Warren Carlyle-directed musical revue about Duke Ellington’s time performing at Harlem’s famed Cotton Club. She’ll sing jazz, blues and swing in the big musical production, which opens Nov. 3 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre after starting previews Oct. 18. The show features 25 vocalists and dancers, a 17-member big band and jazz luminary Wynton Marsalis as musical director.

Barrino, who made her Broadway debut in 2008’s “The Color Purple,” has been practicing her show tunes with Marsalis in a studio at Jazz at Lincoln Center, belting out standards like “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” “Digga Digga Doo,” “Stormy Weather” and “I’ve Got the World on a String.”

According to the Associated Press, Marsalis is teaching Barrino about how Billie Holiday often sang using quarter-note triplets and the placement of African rhythms in blues songs. He reportedly told her it would take at least two years of study before she’ll be able to scat correctly.

That kind of improvisation isn’t easy — but Barrino appears to be full of surprises, if her dressing-room revelation is any indication.

Barrino’s on a roll, penning and singing the theme song for “The Butler.” She recently thanked the director, Lee Daniels, on her Instagram account, saying, “I am So Very Proud of This Amazing Movie you’ve given us. I’m Blessed to be apart of it thru Music!! Thank You for Believing in me.”