Sherri Shepherd will become the first woman to ever play the Genie in Aladdin on Broadway, and the first in any of the 11 Disney-produced stage productions of the musical around the world. Shepherd steps into the role popularized by Robin Williams in the 1992 animated film for a limited run beginning Friday, October 16, and running through Sunday, January 3, 2027, at the New Amsterdam Theatre. Current Genie Caleb A. Barnett will remain with the company as standby during her run.
“Joining Aladdin on Broadway is an absolute dream come true, and an incredible honor,” Shepherd said in a statement. “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. I hope audiences see themselves in this Genie and leave the theatre feeling so much joy and inspired to believe in the impossible. 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.”
Disney Theatrical Group Managing Director Andrew Flatt and Executive Producer Anne Quart praised the casting in a joint statement. “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. We can’t wait to see what happens when Sherri’s authentic, brilliant comic energy meets the joyous escape of Aladdin. Audiences are going to adore her take on this iconic role.”
Shepherd co-hosted The View from 2007 to 2014 and later hosted her own syndicated talk show, Sherri, along with Dish Nation, The Newlywed Game and Best Ever Trivia Show. Her television credits also include 30 Rock, Friends, Sex Lives of College Girls, Harlem, Mr. Iglesias, Trial & Error, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Jamie Foxx Show and Less Than Perfect. On film, she’s appeared in Tyler Perry’s Straw, Brian Banks, Precious, Ride Along 2 and Beauty Shop. Her upcoming Lifetime film, Angel in the Rubble, premieres September 12.
This isn’t Shepherd’s first time making Broadway history. She previously became the first African American actress to portray the Evil Stepmother in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella in 2014. Her stage résumé also includes the Off-Broadway productions Love, Loss, and What I Wore and Joy Behar’s My First Ex-Husband, and she continues to tour as a stand-up comedian.
Shepherd inherits the role from a line of celebrated performers. James Monroe Iglehart originated the Genie on Broadway and won the 2014 Tony Award for the performance. He was followed by Major Attaway, Michael James Scott and, most recently, Caleb A. Barnett. Off the stage, the character has also been played by Robin Williams in Disney’s original 1992 animated film and by Will Smith in Guy Ritchie’s 2019 live-action remake.
The current Broadway company is led by Rodney Ingram as Aladdin, Barnett as the Genie, Sonya Balsara as Jasmine and Dennis Stowe as Jafar, with a supporting cast that includes Jacob Ben-Shmuel, Colt Prattes, JC Montgomery, Don Darryl Rivera and Ryan Gregory Thurman.
Aladdin opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on March 20, 2014, following previews that began February 26, and was nominated for five Tony Awards that year, including Best Musical. The production recently became the 14th longest-running show in Broadway history, with 11 productions staged across four continents and more than 22 million guests to date. The musical features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book and additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin, with direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw. It’s produced by Disney Theatrical Group under the direction of Flatt and Quart.