Sherri Shepherd Makes History With a Magical New Role in Disney’s ‘Aladdin’
Sherri Shepherd is about to make Broadway history in a very big way. The actress and comedian is joining Disney’s Aladdin as the Genie, becoming the first woman to play the famous character in a Disney-produced version of the musical.
Disney Theatrical Group confirmed that Shepherd will start her limited run on October 16 at New York’s New Amsterdam Theatre. She is expected to stay with the production through January 3, 2027, giving audiences several months to see her take on one of the show’s biggest roles.
Shepherd is no stranger to Broadway. She previously appeared in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella in 2013, where she played the Evil Stepmother. That role also made her the first African American actress to play the character on Broadway.
Now she is taking on a completely different kind of part. The Genie is one of the most fun roles in Aladdin, giving the performer plenty of room for comedy, big moments and a lot of personality.
Shepherd was clearly thrilled about the news. She shared the announcement on social media before the official Disney announcement and wrote, “Well…THE SECRET IS OUT! I’ve got a whole new kind of magic up my sleeve! I’m beyond excited, honored, and ready to rub the lamp and make some Broadway magic as the first woman to ever play the genie in Disney’s ALADDIN!”
She later opened up about the importance of the role, saying, “To step on that stage as the first woman to ever play the Genie is something I don’t take lightly.” She also said she hopes people watching her performance will see themselves in the character and leave the theater feeling encouraged to believe that anything is possible.
The production is keeping Caleb A. Barnett with the show as the Genie standby during Shepherd’s run. That means the role will continue to have coverage when needed while Shepherd takes center stage for her scheduled performances.
Disney executives also believe Shepherd is a strong match for the part. Managing Director Andrew Flatt and Executive Producer Anne Quart praised her comedy skills in a joint statement, saying, “Throughout her career, Sherri has represented delight, wit, and loving good humor, making her the perfect entertainer to play the life force that is the Genie.”
Shepherd has built a long career in television, movies and comedy. She won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2009 and spent seven years as a co-host of The View. She has also appeared in shows including 30 Rock, Friends and Everybody Loves Raymond, as well as movies such as Precious and Ride Along 2.
Her stage career has also included Off-Broadway productions such as Love, Loss, and What I Wore and Joy Behar’s My First Ex-Husband.
Her arrival comes at an exciting time for Aladdin. The Broadway musical opened in 2014 and has become one of Disney’s biggest stage productions. The show has welcomed more than 22 million people around the world and has played in productions across four continents.
The musical has also continued to give performers the chance to put their own spin on the Genie. Shepherd’s casting takes that tradition in a new direction and gives audiences something they have never seen in a Disney-produced Aladdin production before.
For fans of Shepherd, this is also a chance to see her return to Broadway in a role that fits her comedy background perfectly. The Genie requires someone who can be loud, funny, energetic and completely comfortable owning the stage, and Shepherd has plenty of experience doing exactly that.
The information about Shepherd’s casting and Broadway run comes from Disney Theatrical Group, along with statements from Shepherd and the production’s creative leadership.
After more than a decade on Broadway, Aladdin is getting a historic new Genie. And this time, the character will be played by a woman for the very first time.
Sherri Shepherd’s limited run as the Genie begins October 16 at the New Amsterdam Theatre and continues through January 3, 2027.
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