Part of Hartford Stage's 2007 SummerStage season, the songstress will take the stage Aug. 2 for a run through Aug. 19. Hartford Stage associate artistic director Jeremy B. Cohen directs the work written by Tom Stolz centering on music star Mahalia Jackson. Billed as "Equal parts gospel musical, biography, and revival meeting," Mahalia takes a "look at the music and civil right pioneer and is guaranteed to lift audiences out of their seats with such songs as 'His Eye is on the Sparrow,' 'How I Got Over,' 'Deep River' and 'Move On Up a Little Higher.'"

"I have loved Frenchie's soaring voice and indomitable spirit as I've gotten to know her work in the past few years," said director Cohen in a statement. "And from the moment we decided to produce a play about Mahalia Jackson, I have wanted to marry Frenchie's incredible love and passion for and connection to Mahalia with this powerfully moving and deeply funny story."

Davis was a part of the second season of FOX's "American Idol" and has gone on to earn the VH1 Diva Award, star in a national tour of Dreamgirls and European tour of Little Shop of Horrors and perform on Broadway in Rent.

The Connecticut company currently presents Lynn Redgrave's Nightingale (through July 1) and will kick off its SummerStage with the three-actress version of Eve Ensler's The Good Body (July 12-28) directed by Tracy Brigden.

Hartford Stage is located at 50 Church Street in downtown Hartford, CT. Tickets for shows are available by calling (860) 527-5151. For more information visit www.hartfordstage.org.