In a moment that blends law and theater, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is set to make her Broadway debut this weekend in the smash hit musical & Juliet.
The trailblazing justice will take center stage for a one-night-only walk-on role on Saturday at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, fulfilling a long-held dream of hers.
Jackson’s appearance will add a truly special touch to the performance, as an ensemble spot has been created specifically for her.
After the show, she will also engage with the audience during a talkback session, giving theatergoers a rare chance to interact with the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
& Juliet, which garnered nine Tony Award nominations following its 2022 Broadway premiere, reimagines Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet, featuring songs from hitmaker Max Martin, whose credits include chart-toppers by Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, and NSYNC.
This momentous occasion is part of Jackson’s personal journey. In her memoir Lovely One, the justice shared her lifelong love of theater, recalling how, as a young girl from Miami, she dreamed of one day appearing on a Broadway stage.
“In one of my supplemental application essays for Harvard University, I expressed that I wished to attend Harvard as I believed it might help me fulfill my fantasy of becoming the first Black female Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage,” she wrote.
The production even celebrated Jackson’s Broadway debut on social media, posting:
“Let’s make that teenage dream come true, Justice Jackson.”
Jackson, who also shared an anecdote during a CBS Sunday Morning interview, once took drama classes with a young Matt Damon at Harvard. Reflecting on their time together, she humorously noted that her acting performance outshone Damon’s in a scene.
“I was like, ‘Oh my god, I was better than Matt Damon in a scene!’” she recalled, laughing.
This exciting moment underscores Jackson’s remarkable journey from the theater to the Supreme Court and proves that even the most accomplished individuals can still follow their passions.
