34 Our Voice / September 2014
Broadway also seems to be on board with the explosion of color on stage. KeKe Palmer set to star in the Rodgers & Hammerstein production of Cinderella.
The 21-year-old actress will be the first African American woman to portray the role of Cinderella, which she describes as a “dream come true”. Also joining the cast is former View host Sherri Shepherd. Shepherd will be playing the role of Madame, the wicked stepmother of Cinderella. Shepard is also the first black woman to portray this roll on Broadway. Palmer and Shepard will be opening September 9 at the Broadway Theatre.
Running now is “Holler If You Hear Me”, a Hip-hop Musical inspired by the works of Tupac Shakur. Also on Broadway is “Motown the Musical” that is the adaptation of the life and journey of founder Berry Gordy as he discovered some of the greatest musical artists of all time.