This is something I did not see coming. When Nene Leakes and Sherri Shepherd were both rumored to be up for the same part in the Broadway production of Cinderella, the initial rumors were they were angling for the part of the fairy godmother. In that story, to me the most important point was that Nene was so butthurt over comments made by Wendy Williams she was finger-painting “Wendell” on pocket books with nail polish.
As it turns out, both Sherri Shepherd and Nene Leakes have gotten the part of Cinderella’s mother to be played across from Keke Palmer. Cinderella has been on Broadway since January of 2013 with a predominantly white cast. That will all change next Tuesday when Sherri Shepherd and Keke Palmer take over the roles of on September 9th. Shepherd will be the first African-American woman to play the evil stepmother on Broadway. She will play the role through November 22. Nene Leakes will take on the role on November 25th presumably playing the role until the curtain falls for the last time January 3, 2015.
Despite how we may feel about Nene, there is no knocking her landing a major role on Broadway. It’s a major accomplishment that she should be proud of. It could not come at a better time for her since she is being phased out of RHOA beginning with this upcoming season filming now.
Sherri Shepherd also really needed this gig as she recently was let go from The View.
For me, a Broadway gig, trumps both The View and RHOA. Here’s hoping for a successful run for both of them. It’s a grueling schedule.
Nene and Frankie Grande on Broadway…sad news for Broadway.
I’m speechless. I had read a couple of weeks ago that Sherri had gotten the role, but saw nothing about Nene. This would be so fun to see. I’d like to go twice to see each of them. I know Sherri will be great, not sure about Nene, but I imagine she can do wicked well.
Round of applause for you Tamara. Very big of you.
I am more shocked at Tamara than the tea! Good for you Tamara! Sometimes i feel the commentating can be so negative. Credit where credit is due is professional and honorable.
Kudos TT. While I’m not a fan of Nene, I too, am happy for her. She’s one of the few RH who have done something with their RH opportunities. She gets high marks in my book for that alone.
Congrats to them both.
Very nice of you, Tamara. Still, Ms Leakes has shown no talent in the acting (other than RHOA) department. Her tv roles have been laughable. Maybe the stage and this role will be a better fit. For right now I am assuming the producers did some stunt casting for the holiday crowds, who are not your typical theatre goers.
There are dozens if not hundreds of experienced, accomplished Broadway actresses who could play this part better then either Shepherd or Leeks. The show is dead man walking so what what do they have to lose.
This is gimmicky star casting meant to cash in on name recognition, not ability. Wendy Williams was cast in “Chicago” for the same reason. She can’t sing, can’t act but has a name that will sell tickets.
Leaks… but whatever… I’m nonplussed
Sherri can act. My favorite Everyone Loves Raymond show was when Sherri played Roberts’s partner (cop) and Robert started to act Black.
Sherri is a pretty good actress, but it’s true that there are probably some other very talented stage actresses that could do the job..I think since this play is on it’s way out, they are changing the game with the cast/genre and doing some stunt casting to keep the seats full, they are unsure how the black cast will play.
Shepherd’s an OK comedian who plays an amusing version of herself when she ‘acts’. She is not a comic and just because she reads lines adequately, it doesn’t make her an actress. Any more then it does Nene Leaks. They are perfectly good TV personalities. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it ain’t Shakespeare.
Well said. Williams can’t carry a tune in a basket, and can’t act a role (beyond playing herself, or a version thereof) yet was cast as Matron Mamma Morton, a singing role.
Leakes has no remarkable acting chops, though to Sherri’s credit, she has had a bit more experience.
I love Sherri and I am happy for her.
I am also happy for Nene. The girl is building her resume.
Hey TT I’m happy to hear Sherri got another job after being let go from the view ! Funny that you are speaking about her I saw her yesterday at pinkberry on 43 street in NYC! She looked casual and cute in her gym gear, she’s not big at all it’s her breast they are to big for her frame! She was acting like a regular New Yorker no one bothered her.
It’s not like Broadway is this divine and pure entity that only blesses few and talented actors. Wendy Williams herself screeched her way through a role last summer. Anything to sell tickets, and if people would pay money to see Nene Leakes play an evil stepmother she will get the job.
I’ve never like Sherri either. She is dumb as fuck, and yet somehow managed to call herself a comedienne with a straight face. She was actually confused about whether the world is flat or not on national television, google it.
I am happy for both ladies. I also share your opinion on Sherri. Hopefully the new replacements on the View know what a scientific paper looks like (the world is not flat, evolution exists, autism is not linked to innoculation).
Like in sports, you put the bench in when the game is almost done. Sherri is a better actress than NeNe but that doesn’t take much because she’s still “D” list. I love Broadway. I would never pay those prices to see either of these women. I bet Barbara had something to do with Sherri as consolation for the abrupt “dismissal”. I can’t believe anyone involved with production of the play wanted NeNe. Definitely a ploy to squeeze out a few more tickets from a “specific” revenue source. Very similar to the crazy casting of Wendy Williams in a musical when she can neither sing or act. *smh* vigorously
So long has this opportunity takes Nene away from RHOA, I will be able to continue to watch it. She’d have to get some pretty stellar reviews for me to take her seriously as an actor. But even if she did, I’d never pay to see her as I don’t want to see her anywhere.
I love both of these Black women making their way in show business. Good luck to the both of them!!
I have met Shepard in person, and felt “nada!” No star presence, wow factor at all! No disrespect, just recollecting that moment near Central Park when I approached her, in a friendly way, she was mildly receptive, she answered my question. Anyhoo, her acting in “Precious” was oookayyy… not bad, but again, no wow-factor. In fact, she left MUCH to be desired [IMO] on The View, too. What is the criterian for “Star Quality” these days? It must be politics, who do you have to know to land these roles?
Like someone said above, it’s the name-recognition they seek to sell more tickets. And all the Julliard trained actors, seasoned professionals, one’s who rightfully deserve such a role should protest this! I know. What good would that do? But hey, you never know.
And NeNe? Her acting is…not there! She’s good at playing herself [literally and figuratively] on RHOA, that’s it! They could be using her, 13, Sag as well as S.S. a Taurus, to usher in the melanin-masses, and for other ritual reasons. One’s that these ladies may or may not even be aware of. If they are, they may not care just like “Eff it, Pay Me!”
Your “Meeting” of Sherri made me giggle. I doubt she was sitting in Central Park with a empty hat and guitar….too funny.
Good for her!
Hopefully this will be her last season on RHOA.
And Nene’s the one who will be on for the holidays. The busiest time here. As hard as this is to say… “Congratulations!” (ouch) I’m looking forward to reading a review.
Happy for both! I don’t expect much but Nene in a corset when it comes to her acting chops.
Putting Nene on Broadway is the same as someone doing a vow renewal. It means one last laugh before the curtain falls with a big thud.
Like putting Joey Fatone in Rent. Aka foreclousure.
I’ll be reading your blog when the reviews come out on both women as I shan’t be able to attend Cinderella in person. Very interesting.
Jesus Christ, I’m an idiot.
Good for both of them. Regardless of why they were cast in the show, I’m not gonna snark. They are both doing something the majority of folks will never get the chance to.
Snark is what we do best around here.
I never believed I’d see you give Nene accolades! Thanks for the tea. I’m happy for both of them. They certainly are driven.
I’ve given Nene accolades many times. I was pulling for her on DWTS until she let the real Nene back out.
I don’t hate Nene, I just judge her behavior on a blog. This time, she did something praiseworthy.
On Thu, Sep 4, 2014 at 9:31 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Congratulations to the both of them. I wish I could go!
Ahhhhh, I hope they both do well. Regardless of what I think, both ladies have the work ethic it takes for that kind of schedule!
I’m sure someone will have it up for us all too see 🙂
Wow, I’m shocked.
I’m wondering if Nene will be able to handle the schedule. I hear being in a play on Broadway is pretty intense. She seems to have a reputation for having a temper and walking out, doesn’t she? I can’t see her getting away with that here. Maybe she will learn something from this experience?
I think she has that reputation from celebrity apprentice and rhoa. Reality shows, Id assume, try a person in a different way from non reality gigs. I think she has the work ethic to do it. Her issues seem to arise when people call her out on who she is as a person, but if the show is run in a professional manner then that shouldn’t come up and she should be fine.
Didn’t she also walk out of a DWTS rehearsal? I’m not sure about that one. And I think a broadway show schedule would be much more intense than anything else she’s done so far. From what I’ve heard, anyway.
I like that you aren’t a hater TT and can graciously give props when due.
Wow – -an evil role for an evil person. I’m not hating…It’s good to see sista’s doing something positive. The problem I have is we will forever be hearing NeNe’s loud mouth bragging about her little extended 15 minutes of fame. No doubt, she’s a hustler, but she needs to be humbled before anyone will take her seriously. She’s not an A-lister, but comes off like she is. For that, she’s lost the respect of a lot of potential fans, as well as limited the small fan-base she already had.
Only b list and under worked actors work during the holiday. Working replacement roles for an ending play while the cast bails out to find other opportunities is hardly a success story. Sounds great to the fans..but such a drop of status in the industry..good luck to both they’re going to need it
Absolutely. The bigger stars get the holidays off!
I’m glad someone recognized this.