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Emmy Winner Sherri Shepherd to Make Broadway History as the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin
Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show host, comedian, and actress Sherri Shepherd is headed back to the Great White Way. Disney Theatrical Group announced today that Shepherd will join the Broadway company of Aladdin as the Genie for a limited run from Friday, October 16, 2026, through Sunday, January 3, 2027.
The engagement marks a milestone moment for the smash-hit musical: Shepherd will become the first woman to play the iconic role on Broadway.
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“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 theater feeling so much joy and inspired to believe in the impossible.”
Shepherd added, “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 leadership expressed equal excitement for her upcoming arrival at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
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“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,” said Andrew Flatt (Managing Director) and Anne Quart (Executive Producer) of Disney Theatrical Group. “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’s return to Broadway adds another chapter to a dynamic, multi-hyphenate career spanning more than three decades across television, film, theater, literature, and stand-up comedy.
A former co-host of The View for seven seasons, Shepherd recently wrapped four seasons as host and executive producer of her nationally syndicated daytime talk show, SHERRI. Her extensive screen resume includes acclaimed roles on 30 Rock, The Sex Lives of College Girls, Harlem, Trial & Error, Precious, and Ride Along 2. Her newest project, the Lifetime film Angel in the Rubble, premieres on September 12.
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Shepherd is no stranger to breaking barriers on stage. She previously made history as the first African American actress to portray Madame, the Evil Stepmother, in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella on Broadway. Her theatrical credits also include Off-Broadway productions of Love, Loss, and What I Wore and Joy Behar’s My First Ex-Husband.
Beyond the screen and stage, Shepherd is a New York Times best-selling author, co-host of the award-winning podcast Two Funny Mamas alongside Kym Whitley, and a touring stand-up comedian. She recently authored her debut children’s book, Sunshine Queens, and is set to release her first romance novel, Life Is a K-Drama (co-written with Jayci Lee), in April 2027.
Tickets for Shepherd’s limited run in Aladdin from October 16, 2026, through January 3, 2027, are available via Disney’s official box office channels.
