Sherri Shepherd becomes Broadway's new Genie!

Sherri Shepherd, an Emmy-winning comedian and former co-host of The View, has made her Broadway debut as the Genie in Disney's Aladdin. She is performing this iconic role for a limited engagement at New York City's New Amsterdam Theatre, with her run extending through January 3, 2027.

The 59-year-old actress is taking on the wish-granting character, a role that marks a significant return to the Broadway stage for her. Previously, Shepherd made history as the first Black actress to portray the Evil Stepmother in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.

Beyond fulfilling a personal dream, Shepherd sees her role as the Genie as an opportunity to inspire young audiences. She expressed a desire for young girls to see new possibilities for themselves, beyond dressing as princesses, and to believe they can achieve great things, whether as architects or even presidents.

Shepherd is a familiar face in the New York theater scene, having also appeared Off-Broadway. Her extensive television career includes seven years on The View and her own talk show, 'Sherri,' alongside acting roles in popular shows and films. The musical Aladdin, based on the 1992 animated film, features music by Alan Menken and has been running at the New Amsterdam Theatre since March 20, 2014.