23 Black Stars Who Shined On Broadway Through The Years
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Taye Diggs made his debut on Broadway Wednesday when he hit the stage as Hedwig in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." Meanwhile, Brandy -- another of one our favorites -- will soon end her run as Roxie in"Chicago" on August 2. These talented performers are just two among a long list of countless stars who have graced Broadway stages over the years.
From legends like Debbie Allen to younger performers like Keke Palmer, here are 23 black stars that have lit up the "Great White Way" over the years:
KeKe Palmer
KeKe Palmer played the leading role in "Cinderella," which ran from September 2014 through the beginning of 2015. She was the first African-American to play Cinderella on Broadway.
Nene Leakes
NeNe Leakes played Cinderella's wicked stepmother "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella" in 2014.
Billy Porter
Billy Porter in his current role as Lola in "Kinky Boots," which will run through August 2. Previously, he has starred in "Miss Saigon" (1999) and "Grease" (1994).
Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington stared as Walter Lee Younger in 2014's "A Raisin In The Sun." He also starred in "Fences" in 2010 and "Julius Ceasar" in 2005.
James Monroe Iglehart
James Monroe Iglehart is Genie in "Aladdin." The show is currently running.
Raven-Symoné
Raven-Symoné made her Broadway debut as Deloris Van Cartier in 2012's "Sister Act."
Deborah Cox
In 2013, Deborah Cox starred as the feisty Lucy in "Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical." Her leading Broadway debut was in 2014 as Aida.
Sean "Diddy" Combs
Debbie Allen
Debbie Allen is a Broadway legend with titles under her belt like "Sweet Charity" (1986), "West Side Story" (1980), "Alice" (1978), "Ain’t Misbehavin’" (1978) and more. She also directed "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (2008) and choreographed "Carrie" (1988).
Leslie Uggams
Making her debut in "Hallelujah, Baby!," Leslie Uggams' legacy on Broadway extends from 1967 to 2005.
Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Williams's first Broadway performance was in "Death and the King's Horseman" in 1987. Since then, she has conquered roles in "Mule Bone" (1991), "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1993), "The Trip to Bountiful" (2013), "After Midnight" (2013) and more.
Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson made her first Broadway performance in "Jolly's Progress" in 1959. Since then, she's appeared in seven Broadway performances. She's slated to return to the stage in "The Gin Game" starring as Fonsia Dorsey this October.
Viola Davis
Viola Davis made her Broadway debut as Vera in the 1996 play, "Seven Guitars." Her most recent role was Rose in "Fences," opposite of Denzel Washington in 2010.
Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia made her broadway debut as Celie in "The Color Purple" in 2007. She returned to the stage in "After Midnight" in 2014.
Phylicia Rashad
Condola Rashad
Condola Rashad, Phylicia Rashad's daughter, starred as Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet" in 2013.
Audra McDonald
The list of Audra McDonald's Broadway credits are endless. She made her debut in 1994 starring in the role of Carrie Pipperidge in "Carousel." Her most recent performance was the leading role in 2014's "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill."
Brian McKnight
Angie Stone
Angie Stone starred in "Chicago" as Matron “Mama” Morton alongside Brian McKnight in 2003.
Nikki M. James
Nikki M. James is best known for her roles in "Les Misérables" which she starred in earlier this year and "The Book of Mormon" in 2011, the latter of which landed her a Tony award.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story indicated Debbie Allen is Phylicia Rashad’s good friend. It has been updated to note that Allen is her sister.
Also on HuffPost:
Beverly Johnson, August 1974
Beverly Johnson, August 1975
Peggy Dillard, August 1977
Peggy Dillard, January 1978
Shelia Johnson, March 1980
Beverly Johnson, January 1981
Shari Belafonte Harper, February 1984
Shari Belafonte Harper, December 1982
Shari Belafonte Harper, January 1985
Shari Belafonte Harper, May 1985
Shari Belafonte Harper, June 1986
Louise Vyent, February 1987
Kara Young, April 1988
Karen Alexander, January 1989
Naomi Campbell, September 1989
Kara Young, October 1989
Naomi Campbell, June 1993
Karia Kabukuru, July 1997
Oprah Winfrey, October 1998
Halle Berry, December 2002
Liya Kebede, May 2005
Jennifer Hudson, March 2007
Lebron James, April 2008
Michelle Obama, March 2009
Beyonce Knowles, April 2009
Halle Berry, September 2010
Rihanna, April 2011
Rihanna, November 2012
Beyonce, March 2013
Michelle Obama, April 2013
Rihanna, March 2014
Lupita Nyong'o, July 2014
Serena Williams, April 2015
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
