Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
Sherri Shepherd is the first woman ever to be cast as the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin.
The 58-year-old talk show host is heading to Broadway in the iconic role popularised by Robin Williams in the studio’s 1992 animated classic, and she’ll be making theatre history in New York City this October.
Disney’s production, which has been running for 11 years, will debut a new cast next month with Sherri taking on the beloved character.
As reported by Entertainment Weekly, this means she will be the first woman to play the role in any of Disney’s 11 stage adaptations around the world.
The former View host said in a statement: “Joining Aladdin on Broadway is an absolute dream come true — and an incredible honour.
“The Genie is such an iconic character, and I’m beyond excited to bring my own energy, humour, heart, and a little bit of magic to this role.”
Sherri wants audiences to “see themselves in this Genie”, and she hopes they will “leave the theatre feeling so much joy and inspired to believe in the impossible”.
She is following in the footsteps of James Monroe Iglehart, Major Attaway, Michael James Scott, and Caleb A. Barnett, while Williams and Will Smith played Genie on the big screen for Disney.
Sherri added: “I’m ready to rub the lamp, unleash some magic, and have the time of my life on Broadway.”
Over the summer, Sherri landed a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for her eponymous talk show, months after it was cancelled.
She is in the running for Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host, competing with the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Tamron Hall, Jennifer Hudson, and The View’s Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro.
The comedian first fronted Sherri in September 2022, but Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury recently confirmed the series has been canned back in February.
She later told viewers: “I want to be clear: I’m not ready to throw in the towel on this show just yet. I’m not. I’m not.
“We’re gonna be airing episodes all through the fall. And we’re going to continue to fight to keep this show alive in some way, shape or form.
“If anybody knows me, they know I’m a fighter. I don’t know exactly what it’s going to look like, but I promise, I am going to continue to spread joy.”
