Tracee Ellis Ross Making Broadway Debut In Every Brilliant Thing

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There will be new onstage magic happening on Broadway.

Tracee Ellis Ross is joining the Broadway production of Every Brilliant Thing this summer, marking her first time performing on Broadway. She’ll be taking over the one-person show in July, following a run by Mariska Hargitay starting May 26th. Currently, Daniel Radcliffe is starring in the play.

For Tracee, the role marks an exciting new chapter. 

In a video posted to Instagram on May 18th, she shared that she was both thrilled and anxious, which she felt was natural. She described the performance as a one-person show that’s also interactive, explaining it’s a monologue delivered by her, the actor, directly to the audience.

As a lifestyle expert, I always say it’s the little things that make an experience truly memorable, and that’s absolutely true with live performances! What I love is how the audience’s energy and the unpredictable nature of each show combine to make every single performance unique and special. It’s what keeps things exciting!

I’m so excited to share that Tracee’s run in Every Brilliant Thing kicks off on July 7th! And honestly, as the playwright, Duncan Macmillan, already knows, it’s going to be absolutely incredible – you definitely won’t want to miss it.

I’ve long admired Tracee’s talent and knew she’d be a perfect fit for ‘Every Brilliant Thing,'” said a representative in a statement. “We’re incredibly excited she’s making her Broadway debut with us this summer. We look forward to welcoming her to the Hudson Theatre and sharing her special interpretation of the play with audiences.

Of course, Tracee also had a batch of celebrity pals cheering on her exciting news. 

Reese Witherspoon exclaimed this was “the greatest news ever!” and Sheinelle Jones happily responded with a cheerful “Yay!”

Daniel, recently nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in Every Brilliant Thing, understands just how special this show is. It’s unusual for a Broadway actor to walk around the theater before the show even begins, encouraging the audience to get involved.

Honestly, being part of this has been such a wild ride – both incredibly exciting and a little nerve-wracking! It’s actually why I signed up for the show in the first place. Getting to connect with so many people, especially a huge crowd, is something I don’t get to do often. I love being able to run around and chat with everyone before we start – it’s a really special feeling and a great way to build that connection with the audience.

He also gave Mariska some advice on choosing the best audience members to participate.

Daniel explained that he’s given the show’s casting director a couple of interesting tips. He suggested that if an actor seems hesitant to take a role, especially if they have children, you should ask them about it while their kids are present. Then, he advised, you should step away and let the actor’s children encourage them to accept the part.

For more stars who have made Broadway debuts, read on. 

Robert Downey Jr. has moved from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the stage, recently making his Broadway debut in Ayad Akhtar’s play, McNeal. The story centers on Jacob McNeal, a writer facing a terminal diagnosis who unexpectedly receives a Nobel Prize. Despite strongly disliking artificial intelligence, he considers using it to help him write one last novel.

As for why the Iron-Man star decided to hit the stage in the Bartlett Sher-directed production?

In an October 2024 interview with Vogue, he described a new play, praising its relevance and the talented people involved – including Bart and the rest of the cast. He noted that the playwright, Ayad, has a unique style of presenting opposing ideas within the same line of dialogue, often immediately challenging or undermining his previous statements.

Before starting his new role, Robert reached out to Bradley Cooper—a fellow Marvel actor who received a Tony Award nomination for his 2015 performance in The Elephant Man—to ask for guidance.

Robert remembered telling someone, ‘Just remember you’ll be aware of your own body – you’ll feel your feet in your shoes – when you’re on stage. The audience will feel supportive, like a soft cushion.’ He told The Independent that he took that as a good sign and decided to relax and let the performance unfold naturally, similar to how Bradley Cooper approaches his work.

Whitney Leavitt quickly transitioned from competing on Dancing With the Stars – where she was eliminated in November 2025 – to performing on Broadway in Chicago. Originally scheduled to play Roxie Hart for six weeks until March 2026, strong audience demand led to her run being extended through April.

Whitney is popular for her energetic personality on the Hulu reality show she stars in alongside Taylor Frankie Paul, Mayci Neeley, and other social media moms. However, before becoming a reality TV personality, Whitney was a competitive dancer and studied dance at Brigham Young University in Utah, and always hoped to perform on stage.

She told Playbill in March 2026 that a love of performing has always been a core part of who she is. As a child, she enjoyed making up dances and staging mini music videos for her family, often gathering her cousins to put on shows for the adults.

And yet she still had nerves about taking her dance skills from TikTok to the Great White Way. 

In a video posted to Instagram in February 2026, she shared how overwhelmed she was feeling. She admitted she was particularly nervous about singing solo in front of a live audience for the first time. After a lot of preparation, she hoped she’d feel comfortable and confident when she performed, and that everything would come naturally. Ultimately, she just wanted to believe in herself.

Pamela Anderson showed she could shine on Broadway when she played Roxie Hart in Chicago. She connected with the story on a personal level and performed the role for two months, finishing her run in June 2022.

She shared with TopMob News that April she’d lived a very eventful life, with both great joys and difficult times. She admitted she never fully understood what she was working towards, but now realizes it was all preparation for something bigger than she ever expected.

She felt a connection to Roxie, recognizing both her fragility and resilience. Like Roxie, she understood what it was like to face difficulties with humor and poise, to be misrepresented, and ultimately, to transform negative experiences into something positive and meaningful.

Although the former Baywatch star was enthusiastic, she understood she had a lot of preparation to do before she could convincingly play Roxie and wear the character’s famous fringed dress.

She confessed she’d never pushed herself so hard, but she was thriving. She enjoyed the demanding rehearsals and the feeling of satisfaction that came with being exhausted at the end of the day. She was learning everything she could, completely immersed in the experience. She’d always dreamed of being a performer, but never believed it would actually happen.

And the former Playboy model admitted she was surprised to be cast in the role.

I can’t believe they chose me, it feels a little wild, but I’m incredibly thankful,” she said. “It’s a big risk for all of us, but I’m learning so much about singing – it takes both bravery and skill, and I’m feeling myself improve with each passing day.

Tom Felton charmed audiences for 19 weeks playing Draco Malfoy – now grown up – in the stage play Harry Potter and The Cursed Child.

Nearly two decades after the Battle of Hogwarts, the story centers on an unlikely friendship. Albus Severus Potter, son of Harry and Ginny, and Scorpius Malfoy, Draco’s son, both find themselves in Slytherin House and form a bond with each other.

Honestly, I nearly fainted when I heard him say it on Today back in June 2025! It was five months before the premiere, and he was just… unreal. He said it felt like a dream, and I totally get it! He’d moved on from that character sixteen years ago, and now he gets to play him again, but as a dad this time, in a whole new story! I’m still not sure it’s real, I keep rewatching the interview just to make sure I didn’t imagine it!

Despite appearing in all eight Harry Potter movies as the well-known villain, the actor admitted his stage presence wasn’t quite as magical.

He explained that the play feels like a completely separate story from the Harry Potter movies he remembers from childhood. Now, instead of being the young audience, he and others are now the parents watching. While revisiting a familiar role, it also feels like stepping into something new and different.

Charli D’Amelio first gained fame on TikTok, then showcased her dancing on TV with a 2022 appearance on Dancing With the Stars. Now, in October 2024, she’s making her Broadway debut in the musical & Juliet.

The influencer’s role as Charmian was originally scheduled to finish in January 2025, but it was extended on two separate occasions.

She expressed immense excitement about joining the Broadway scene, something she’s dreamed of since childhood. In a statement released in September 2024, ahead of her almost year-long engagement, she said making her Broadway debut – and especially being part of the cast of & Juliet – felt like a dream come true, and she was eager to share the experience with audiences.

Although it was her Broadway debut, performing a demanding dance role as a member of Shakespeare’s acting troupe felt surprisingly comfortable thanks to her years of experience.

She shared with ABC7 that November that dance had always been deeply meaningful to her. She explained that it allowed her to express herself when words weren’t enough.

Though, it was still hard to grapple with such a prestigious honor.

You know, looking around this room, it really hits me how far I’ve come. Growing up, I honestly never imagined I’d be here, and I spent a lot of time second-guessing myself. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who supported me along the way, especially my mom. She was my biggest champion, driving me to every dance class and competition, and always believing in me – even when I didn’t believe in myself. She really kept me going and showed me that hard work and passion could take me somewhere with dance.

Similar to Whitney and Pamela, Ariana Madix was excited to see the musical Chicago. The Vanderpump Rules star earned the night out after a difficult year—she was asked to appear on stage less than nine months after her very public and dramatic split from costar Tom Sandoval.

Understandably, she described that chapter in her life to TopMob News as “the rollercoaster.”

I was absolutely thrilled to see Ariana back in the musical! She was incredible from January to April, and then thankfully returned for another run in August and September. When asked about everything happening, she just laughed and said, ‘There’s no way to even put all of that into words!’ It really captured how everyone felt – it was just a lot!

For the reality TV personality, this experience allowed her to transform a difficult time into a major triumph.

She’s incredibly emotionally manipulative,” she said about Roxie. “She can be very charming and flattering, but if you don’t immediately meet her demands, she’ll quickly turn on you.

Julianne Hough dreamed of performing on Broadway, but she wanted to wait for the perfect role. When she came across the play POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, she felt it was exactly what she’d been waiting for.

From April to August 2022, Alfonso Ribeiro, known for co-hosting Dancing With the Stars, played Dusty, a public relations staffer for a U.S. president. Alongside Rachel Dratch, Vanessa Williams, Julie White, Lilli Cooper, and Lea DeLaria, he worked with a team of seven women tasked with protecting the controversial politician from scandal.

She mentioned talks about performing on Broadway, but in an interview with TopMob News in May 2022, she explained she didn’t want it to just be something she accomplished and moved on from. She was hoping to truly become involved with the Broadway community, to learn from it and contribute, rather than just make a brief appearance.

Nicole Scherzinger always dreamed of stardom. She achieved early success as the lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls, enjoying travel and a glamorous lifestyle. However, her ultimate dream came true when she played Norma Desmond in the musical Sunset Boulevard from October 2024 to July 2025.

Oh my gosh, you guys, listening to Nicole talk about winning the Tony was EVERYTHING. She basically said she always felt…incomplete, like she wasn’t really living, and she was never truly happy with herself. And it all made sense! She explained it was because she knew she had so much more inside her, so much talent just waiting to burst out. This role, this incredible opportunity, finally let her give absolutely everything she had, and she said it completely changed her life! Honestly, hearing her talk about how grateful she is just makes me love her even MORE.

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2026-05-18 22:20