Featuring songs by Randy Newman, the animated musical film will be directed by co-writer Ron Clements, who has penned the new take on the classic Grimm Brothers fairy tale with John Musker. Disney Animation has already begun production on the film for a 2009 release. Rose will lend her voice to the film's 19-year-old-heroine, the first African-American Disney princess, for the story which is reset in 1920's New Orleans. The movie will mark a return to hand-drawn animation for the company (since 2004's "Home on the Range"), a technique that has given way in recent years to its computer-generated successor.

The actress, who starred alongside Jennifer Hudson and Beyoncé as the lead trio in "Dreamgirls," is known to Broadway audiences for her Tony-winning turn in the musical Caroline, or Change.

Other stage credits include Broadway's Footloose, Off-Broadway's Eli's Comin' and the City Center Encores! mounting of Purlie.

Creators Clements and Musker have previously teamed for Disney on the films "The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," "Hercules," "Treasure Planet" and "Basil - The Great Mouse Detective."