
Sherri Shepherd Joins Broadway’s ‘Aladdin’ as the Genie
Sherri Shepherd is preparing for a limited Broadway run in Aladdin, taking over the role of the Genie from Oct. 16 through Jan. 3. The Daytime Emmy Award-winning host and NAACP Image Award winner is returning to the stage for her second Broadway appearance and training for the demanding musical role. Key Takeaways Sherri Shepherd will play the Genie in Broadway’s Aladdin from Oct. 16 through Jan. 3. The role is Shepherd’s second Broadway appearance after her 2014 performance in Cinderella. Shepherd is taking dance and voice lessons to prepare for the high-energy character. She has sought advice from Broadway performers including Kristin Chenoweth, Steven Boyer and Wayne Brady. Shepherd has said she wants young theatergoers to see possibilities for themselves through her performance. Sherri Shepherd Begins Preparation for the Genie Role Shepherd is preparing for the Genie by taking dance and voice lessons and practicing the character’s signature musical number, “Friend Like Me.” The role requires a high-energy performance as the wisecracking Genie, a character who plays a central part in the musical adaptation of the 1992 animated film. The Genie was played on Broadway by James Monroe Iglehart, who won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in








































