<\/p>\n
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCF chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.<\/p>\n
Grammy-winning rapper, songwriter, and actress Megan Thee Stallion is bringing her talents to a Broadway stage. From March 24 to May 17, she will be taking over the role of Zidler in Moulin Rouge! on Broadway. This role \u2014originated by Danny Burstein, who won the 2020 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for his performance \u2014 is traditionally male, so Megan Thee Stallion will be the first woman to become the owner of the famed cabaret.<\/p>\n
Moulin Rouge! is a unique opportunity for Megan Thee Stallion, marking her stage debut. She has, however, previously been featured in a musical, appearing in Dicks: The Musical<\/a> alongside Bowen Yang and Nathan Lane in 2023. This unconventional musical movie was the first step in Megan branching out from her usual artistry. She commented on this departure from her rap roots<\/a> in a statement, explaining that \u201cBroadway demands a different level of discipline, preparation, and storytelling, but I\u2019m up for the challenge and can\u2019t wait for the Hotties to see a new side of me.\u201d The Hotties, the name she uses for her fans, are sure to show up as the casting announcement has amassed over 430,000 likes on Instagram and thousands of excited comments.<\/p>\n @theestallion on Instagram<\/p>\n Megan Thee Stallion\u2019s portrayal of Zidler will be one of the final interpretations since Moulin Rouge! is set to close on July 26. The musical, based on Baz Luhrmann\u2019s iconic film, will have played 2,265 performances over a seven-year run, ranking among the 50 longest-running Broadway productions. The show continues to be staged on the West End in London and on the North American tour, both of which have been running since 2022.<\/p>\n Megan Thee Stallion stepping into the role of Harold Zidler is another entry in the long list of stunt casting on Broadway, a practice of casting celebrities in theater productions to boost ticket sales. Moulin Rouge! resorts to this tactic often<\/a>, with notable examples being singer-songwriter JoJo, Meg Donnelly from Disney\u2019s Zombies, and actor-comedian Wayne Brady. These famous actors further the notion of Moulin Rouge! as a pop culture spectacle since its score is also composed of chart-topping hits. The 2001 movie features songs by David Bowie and the Police, though the stage show adds new mashups, drawing from Katy Perry and Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s discographies.<\/p>\n \n