Misty Copeland's Broadway Debut

July 6, 2015

It’s been a huge year for Misty Copeland–now a principal with American Ballet Theatre. And she doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon: Yesterday, Copeland announced that she’ll join the cast of the Broadway musical On the Town starting August 25! She’ll be taking over for fellow ballerina Megan Fairchild (a principal with New York City Ballet).

(From left) Clyde Alves, Tony Yazbeck and Jay Armstrong Johnson in On the Town (photo by Sara Krulwich for the New York Times)

In a New York Times interview, Copeland said how excited she was to be a part of this ballet-filled moment on Broadway. Because all bunheads know, On the Town isn’t the only show currently featuring professional ballet dancers: former NYCB dancer and choreographer extraordinaire Christopher Wheeldon’s adaptation of “An American in Paris,” starring Royal Ballet first artist Leanne Cope and NYCB principal (and Megan’s brother) Robert Fairchild, is currently igniting the Great White Way, too.

Not only will the On the Town run show off Copeland’s gorgeous dancing, but we’ll get to witness her acting and singing skills, too. And if her performances as Odette/Odille in Swan Lake, the title role in Alexei Ratmansky’s Firebird or Juliet in Romeo and Juliet are any indication of her theatrical skills, her Broadway debut is sure to be outstanding.

Copeland owning the role of Odette in Swan Lake (photo Darren Thomas/QPAC)

Copeland in character as the title role in Firebird (photo Gene Schiavone)