Rashad first became known for her stage work with a string of Broadway credits, including Deena Jones in "Dreamgirls" (she was Sheryl Lee Ralph's understudy until leaving the show in 1982 after being passed over as Ralph's full-time replacement) and playing a Munchkin in "The Wiz" for three and a half years. In 1978, she released the album "Josephine Superstar", a disco concept album telling the life story of Josephine Baker. The album was mainly written and produced by Jacques Morali and Rashad's second husband Victor Willis, original lead singer and lyricist of the Village People. She met Willis while they were both cast in "The Wiz".