Sherri Shepherd is heading back to Broadway, and this time, she’ll be making history. The Emmy-winning actress and comedian will become the first woman to play the Genie in Disney’s Broadway production of Aladdin. Shepherd begins her limited engagement October 16 at the New Amsterdam Theatre, where she will remain through January 3, 2027.
Her casting marks a first for the Broadway production, which opened in 2014. Shepherd will also be the first woman to play the Genie in any of the 11 Disney-produced stage adaptations worldwide. The role was originated on Broadway by James Monroe Iglehart, who won a Tony Award for his performance. Major Attaway and Michael James Scott have since stepped into the part, with Caleb A. Barnett currently playing the Genie.
“Joining Aladdin on Broadway is an absolute dream come true,” Shepherd said in a statement, “and an incredible honor. The Genie is such an iconic character, and I’m beyond excited to bring my own energy, humor, heart, and a little bit of magic to this role.”
Shepherd added, “To step on that stage as the first woman to ever play the Genie is something I don’t take lightly. I’m ready to rub the lamp, unleash some magic, and have the time of my life on Broadway.”
The role brings Shepherd back to Broadway 12 years after her debut in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, where she played Madame, the Evil Stepmother, in 2014. Her other stage credits include the Off-Broadway productions Love, Loss, and What I Wore and Joy Behar’s My First Ex-Husband. She has also continued performing stand-up comedy while building a television career spanning several decades.
The announcement comes months after Shepherd concluded the four-season run of her daytime talk show, Sherri, in May. The former View co-host’s television credits also include 30 Rock and The Sex Lives of College Girls. Her next screen appearance comes in the Lifetime film Angel in the Rubble, premiering September 12.
No comments:
Post a Comment