Emmy-winning talk show host, comedian, actor, and author Sherri Shepherd is heading to Agrabah.
Shepherd will join the Broadway company of Disney’s “Aladdin” as the Genie for a limited engagement from Oct. 16, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027, in what will be a rare Broadway stage appearance for the entertainer.
Shepherd said taking on the larger-than-life role is both a dream and an opportunity to make Broadway history as the first woman to play the Genie in the production.
“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.”
She added that she hopes audiences will “see themselves in this Genie” and leave the theater feeling joyful and inspired.
“To step on that stage as the first woman to ever play the Genie is something I don’t take lightly,” Shepherd said. “I’m ready to rub the lamp, unleash some magic, and have the time of my life on Broadway.”
Disney Theatrical Group executives Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart said Shepherd’s comic sensibility makes her a natural fit for the role.
“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,” Flatt, the group’s managing director, and Quart, its executive producer, said in a joint statement.
They said audiences can expect Shepherd to bring her own distinct comic energy to the long-running musical.
“We can’t wait to see what happens when Sherri’s authentic, brilliant comic energy meets the joyous escape of ‘Aladdin,’” they said. “Audiences are going to adore her take on this iconic role.”
Shepherd, whose career has spanned television, stand-up comedy, acting, and publishing, currently hosts the daytime talk show “Sherri.” Her stint in “Aladdin” will run through the holiday season before concluding Jan. 3.
