Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose has joined the upcoming Broadway world premiere of The Balusters, stepping into the role of Kyra Marshall following the departure of Renée Elise Goldsberry, who exited the production due to a scheduling conflict.
The new play, written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by Tony winner Kenny Leon, will begin previews on Tuesday, March 31, ahead of an official opening on April 21 at Broadway’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre as part of the 2025–26 season.
Produced by Manhattan Theatre Club, The Balusters centers on the Vernon Point Neighborhood Association, a seemingly quaint community whose members are deeply invested in everything from porch railings to trash can etiquette. Tensions erupt when a new member proposes what feels like an act of war: adding a stop sign to the neighborhood’s most picturesque corner. The result is a sharp, comedic exploration of power, privilege, and the chaos that can unfold when small communities confront big change.
Rose joins an ensemble that includes Marylouise Burke as Penny Buell, Carl Clemons-Hopkins as Brooks Duncan, Margaret Colin as Ruth Ackerman, Richard Thomas as Elliott Emerson, Kayli Carter as Willow Gibbons, Ricardo Chavira as Isaac Rosario, Michael Esper as Alan Kirby, Maria-Christina Oliveras as Luz Baccay, and Jeena Yi as Melissa Han. Casting is by Kelly Gillespie of Caparelliotis Casting.
The creative team features scenic design by Derek McLane, costumes by Emilio Sosa, lighting by Allen Lee Hughes, and original music and sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, with fight direction by Thomas Schall and vocal coaching by Deborah Hecht. Tripp Phillips serves as production stage manager.