Broadway's Aladdin has never had a female Genie, and Sherri Shepherd takes it on 16 October

Well, this is one for the Broadway history books. Disney's Aladdin has just pulled off a proper headline-grabber with its latest casting move for the winter run. Sherri Shepherd—yes, her from The View—is officially stepping into the Genie's curly-toed shoes. And she's the first woman ever to do it.

Shepherd's stint begins on 16 October and runs through the entire holiday season, with her last show on 3 January 2027.

If you happen to follow American daytime telly, you'll know Shepherd as the long-serving co-host of The View (seven years, no less), plus stints on Dish Nation and The Newlywed Game. Acting-wise, she's popped up all over—30 Rock, Friends, and even had roles in films like Precious and Ride Along 2. On stage, her only Broadway credit so far is playing the Evil Stepmother in Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella back in 2014, with a couple of Off-Broadway bits thrown in for good measure.

Breaking New Ground

If you're counting, the Genie role has always belonged to men—Robin Williams in the animated film, Will Smith in the live action, and a rotating batch of blokes on Broadway. Shepherd will be smashing that glass lamp for a limited time, running from Friday, 16 October (talk about holiday scheduling), with her finale lined up for Sunday, 3 January 2027. It keeps things fresh for the show and throws a bit of much-needed variety into Broadway casting.

Shepherd herself is properly buzzing about the gig. Here's what she had to say when the announcement dropped:

‘Joining Aladdin on Broadway is an absolute dream come true and an incredible honor. 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... To step on that stage as the first woman to ever play the Genie is something I don't take lightly.’

The producers at Disney Theatrical Group, Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart, are equally chuffed. They singled out Shepherd's long track record of ‘delight, wit, and loving good humor’ as spot on for the Genie, which—let's be honest—isn't a million miles off the mark if you've seen her host.

A Bit of Genie Context

• Aladdin launched at the New Amsterdam Theatre in March 2014 and hasn't budged since, routinely packing out the stalls nearly a decade later.
• Ticket sales peak over Christmas and New Year—hence, this particular casting window.
• Outside the theatre, Shepherd's also got a new Lifetime TV film (Angel in the Rubble, premieres 12 September) on the way, plus her stand-up tour keeps rolling—seems a busy few months coming up.