Extended in her leading role in Disney's "Aida" through the show's planned Sept. 5 closing, Deborah Cox tells Billboard.com she is contemplating stepping into another musical in 2005.
"'Dreamgirls' approached me," she says. "'Why Do Girls Fall in Love?' approached me, and I'm really toying with the idea of doing another show next year. I've been bitten by the bug."
Cox took over the title role in the Tony award-winning Elton John/Tim Rice musical in February. Heather Headley originated the character when the show opened in early 2000. It has since been filled at different points by Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child) and Toni Braxton.
A Toronto native who started out in musical theater before becoming a recording artist, Cox believes she can balance the two aspects of her career. Before taking on another stage role, she hopes to record a new album that may deviate from the R&B and dance that has been her hallmark.
"It's wonderful because I'm singing all of these different styles in one show," she explains. "With 'Aida' I'm singing these soft pop ballads to these classically styled songs to gospel songs. And that is exciting for me. Creatively it's stimulating, as opposed to just doing the same thing all the time.
"I've been kind of toying around with the idea of doing a jazz record," Cox adds. "I've also been toying with the idea of doing classic pop songs with a soulful edge."
Currently without a recording contract, Cox has released albums on Arista and J Records, both BMG-affiliated labels.
"There's offers out and there's been a lot of interest," she says. "A lot of people have come through and seen the show and seen a different side of me, a side that hasn't been portrayed on my albums. I think it's really opened a lot of doors musically [for things] that people probably wouldn't have known that I'd been interested in."
Cox's last studio album was 2002's "Morning After," which debuted at No. 7 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. "Deborah Cox - Remixed" (J Records) was issued last year, followed in May by another compilation, "Ultimate Deborah Cox" (BMG Heritage).
Although she's already thinking about re-teaming with producers with whom she's worked with before, such as Shep Crawford, Warren Campbell and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Cox won't be doing any recording until "Aida" closes.
"I've got a lot of ideas, but I haven't really had a chance to flesh them out," she says. "Right now my concentration is really about the show."
"It's an exciting time to be a part of the Broadway community and it's a community that I've so longed to be a part of and now I have these people as my peers so I'm really thankful for the opportunity and the experience," she adds. "Creatively it's just been stimulating and wonderful. I'm having a great time."
"'Dreamgirls' approached me," she says. "'Why Do Girls Fall in Love?' approached me, and I'm really toying with the idea of doing another show next year. I've been bitten by the bug."
Cox took over the title role in the Tony award-winning Elton John/Tim Rice musical in February. Heather Headley originated the character when the show opened in early 2000. It has since been filled at different points by Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child) and Toni Braxton.
A Toronto native who started out in musical theater before becoming a recording artist, Cox believes she can balance the two aspects of her career. Before taking on another stage role, she hopes to record a new album that may deviate from the R&B and dance that has been her hallmark.
"It's wonderful because I'm singing all of these different styles in one show," she explains. "With 'Aida' I'm singing these soft pop ballads to these classically styled songs to gospel songs. And that is exciting for me. Creatively it's stimulating, as opposed to just doing the same thing all the time.
"I've been kind of toying around with the idea of doing a jazz record," Cox adds. "I've also been toying with the idea of doing classic pop songs with a soulful edge."
Currently without a recording contract, Cox has released albums on Arista and J Records, both BMG-affiliated labels.
"There's offers out and there's been a lot of interest," she says. "A lot of people have come through and seen the show and seen a different side of me, a side that hasn't been portrayed on my albums. I think it's really opened a lot of doors musically [for things] that people probably wouldn't have known that I'd been interested in."
Cox's last studio album was 2002's "Morning After," which debuted at No. 7 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. "Deborah Cox - Remixed" (J Records) was issued last year, followed in May by another compilation, "Ultimate Deborah Cox" (BMG Heritage).
Although she's already thinking about re-teaming with producers with whom she's worked with before, such as Shep Crawford, Warren Campbell and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Cox won't be doing any recording until "Aida" closes.
"I've got a lot of ideas, but I haven't really had a chance to flesh them out," she says. "Right now my concentration is really about the show."
"It's an exciting time to be a part of the Broadway community and it's a community that I've so longed to be a part of and now I have these people as my peers so I'm really thankful for the opportunity and the experience," she adds. "Creatively it's just been stimulating and wonderful. I'm having a great time."
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