Sherri Shepherd steps onto the New Amsterdam Theatre stage tonight, October 16, as the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin, becoming the first woman ever to play the role on Broadway. Her limited engagement runs through January 3, 2027, Playbill reports.
Sherri Shepherd as the Genie: the quick answers
First performance: Friday, October 16, 2026, at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York.
Final performance: January 3, 2027, covering the entire holiday season.
Why it matters: she is the first woman to play the Genie in the Disney musical, a role created on Broadway by Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart and made famous on film by Robin Williams.
Who she replaces: Caleb A. Barnett, who stays with the company as the Genie standby during her run.
Tickets: available through the show’s official site and authorized Broadway sellers; holiday-week performances are expected to be the first to sell through.
Why this casting is historic
The Genie has historically been played by men, from Iglehart’s Tony-winning 2014 origination onward. Shepherd breaks that line. “Joining Aladdin on Broadway is an absolute dream come true, and an incredible honor,” she said in a statement. “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’s Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart backed the choice 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. Audiences are going to adore her take on this iconic role.”
It is not Shepherd’s first piece of Broadway history. She previously became the first African American actress to play the Evil Stepmother in Cinderella, per Playbill, and she returns to Broadway after four seasons hosting her own syndicated talk show, Sherri.
What this means for readers and fans
Planning a trip: Shepherd’s run covers Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s week, the busiest stretch of the Broadway year, so booking early matters more than usual.
Already have tickets? Check your date: performances through January 3 feature Shepherd, and after that the production moves on to its next Genie. On nights she is out, Caleb A. Barnett steps in as standby.
What to watch for: the Genie carries the show’s biggest numbers, including “Friend Like Me,” and first-takes from a comedian of Shepherd’s timing tend to draw strong word of mouth fast.
TV fans: after four seasons of her daytime show Sherri, this is her first major onstage chapter, per Broadway.com.
The road to the Genie: a full timeline
1992: Disney’s animated Aladdin introduces Robin Williams’ Genie, one of the most beloved voice performances in film history.
March 20, 2014: the stage musical opens at the New Amsterdam Theatre after previews from February 26. James Monroe Iglehart wins the Tony for originating the Genie.
2026: Aladdin becomes the 14th longest-running show in Broadway history, with 11 productions across four continents and more than 22 million guests worldwide.
September 8, 2026: Disney announces Shepherd’s casting, confirming her as the first woman in the role.
October 16, 2026: her first performance.
January 3, 2027: her final scheduled performance.
The company she joins
The current Broadway cast is led by Rodney Ingram in the title role, with Sonya Balsara as Jasmine and Dennis Stowe as Jafar. The show features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book by Chad Beguelin, with direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw.
Long-running musicals have a tradition of star drop-ins keeping the box office fresh, and a history-making comic in the show’s flashiest role is about as strong a version of that play as Broadway offers. For Disney, it pairs a milestone, the show’s climb up the all-time list, with a genuine first.
