Sherri Shepherd is preparing to take on one of Broadway’s most beloved roles.
The award-winning entertainer will play the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin from October 16 through January 3. She will make history as the first woman to play the Genie in the musical.
For Shepherd, however, the role means more than another major career achievement. She hopes young girls watching her will see new possibilities for their own lives.
“I want the children to see the possibilities,” Shepherd said. She especially wants girls to imagine themselves beyond traditional roles.
Sherri Shepherd Takes on the Genie Role in Aladdin
Shepherd is no stranger to television, comedy, or the stage. She is a Daytime Emmy Award winner and NAACP Image Award winner.
Still, playing the Genie is a dream she never expected to experience. She has watched Aladdin with members of her family before.
Shepherd said she never imagined becoming part of the Aladdin family herself. Now, she is preparing to bring the character to life on Broadway.
“I’ve taken my family, my nieces and nephews, to see this musical,” she said. “I never dreamed that I would one day be a part of the ‘Aladdin’ family.”
Shepherd described herself as “beyond thrilled” about the opportunity. She also understands the responsibility that comes with such a recognizable character.
Broadway’s First Woman to Play the Genie
The Genie has a major place in the Aladdin legacy. Robin Williams first voiced the character in Disney’s 1992 animated movie.
Will Smith later played the Genie in the 2019 live-action film. On Broadway, James Monroe Iglehart became closely associated with the role after winning a Tony Award for his performance in 2014.
Shepherd is now preparing to add her own interpretation to that legacy. Her casting also gives audiences something they have not seen before in the Broadway musical.
She will be the first woman to play the Genie in Aladdin. Shepherd said she understands the importance of the moment.
“To step on that stage as the first woman to ever play the Genie is something I don’t take lightly,” she said.
Sherri Shepherd Wants Young Girls to See New Possibilities
Shepherd is especially focused on what children will take away from her performance.
She remembers being a young girl and watching Stephanie Mills perform in The Wiz. That experience showed her what could be possible on stage.
Now, she wants to create a similar memory for children watching her. She hopes they leave the theater believing they can dream bigger.
“All of the children that are coming in that theater, I want them to feel the same way I felt when I was a little girl,” Shepherd said.
Her message is especially strong for young girls. Shepherd wants them to understand that their dreams do not have to fit one expected path.
“I want the little girls to say, ‘Oh yeah. I know I used to dress as a princess, but I could be the Genie,’” she said. “Maybe I could be president.”
Shepherd Is Preparing for a Demanding Broadway Performance
Taking on the Genie will require more than acting experience.
Shepherd is currently taking dance and singing lessons. She is also practicing “Friend Like Me,” one of the character’s signature songs.
The role is known for its energy and demanding performance style. Therefore, Shepherd is putting in the work before stepping onto the Broadway stage.
Shepherd admits the opportunity has pushed her outside her comfort zone. Yet she sees that challenge as another reason to accept it.
“My whole career has never been the easy way,” she said. “My whole life is, ‘If it scares you, then you say yes.’”
Sherri Shepherd Draws on Her Broadway Experience
The Genie will mark Shepherd’s second Broadway appearance.
She previously played the wicked stepmother in Cinderella in 2014. She has also appeared in several off-Broadway productions.
Her theater credits include Love, Loss and What I Wore, Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words, and Joy Behar’s My First Ex-Husband.
Even with that experience, Shepherd is not approaching the Genie role alone. She has been seeking advice from friends who understand the demands of Broadway.
She has reached out to performers including Kristin Chenoweth, Steven Boyer, and Wayne Brady.
“I am calling them up going, ‘Help me, help me, help me,’” Shepherd said. She is using their advice as she prepares for the role.
A New Broadway Chapter for Sherri Shepherd
The Broadway opportunity comes after another major chapter in Shepherd’s career.
Her daytime talk show, Sherri, ended its four-season run in May 2026. She has also worked as a co-host of The View, podcaster, author, and actress.
Her television credits include 30 Rock and The Sex Lives of College Girls. She is also set to appear in the Lifetime movie Angel in the Rubble, which is scheduled to premiere September 12.
Now, Broadway is giving Shepherd another opportunity to stretch herself.
She is ready to step into the spotlight, rub the lamp, and bring her own energy to the Genie. More importantly, she wants the children watching to understand that their dreams can be bigger than they imagined.
For Shepherd, that may be the most meaningful part of the role. She is not simply taking on a famous character. She is showing a new generation that there is room for them in places they may have never imagined.
