Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson took a groundbreaking turn on Broadway, stepping into a specially created one-night-only role in the hit musical & Juliet on Dec.14 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, added another first to her storied career by fulfilling her long-held dream of gracing the Broadway stage.
In an Instagram video documenting the event, Jackson can be seen rehearsing for her role and later receiving applause from the audience during her Broadway debut. Reflecting on her milestone appearance, Jackson remarked:
“I think that it means that anything is possible.”
A Dream Realized
The justice’s love for theater dates back to her youth. In her memoir Lovely One, published in September, Jackson revealed how she wrote about her passion for the arts in her Harvard application.
“I, a Miami girl from a modest background with an unabashed love of theatre, dreamed of one day ascending to the highest court in the land—and I had said so in one of my supplemental application essays,” she recalled.
Her Dec. 14 performance completed the second half of that dream.
Following her appearance in & Juliet, Jackson also participated in a talkback session, offering insights and sharing her journey with attendees.
A Star-Studded Cast
Jackson joined the acclaimed cast of & Juliet, which includes Maya Boyd as Juliet, Tony Award winner Paulo Szot as Lance, Alison Luff as Anne, Drew Gehling as Shakespeare, and Liam Pearce as Romeo.
The ensemble features notable performers such as Charli D’Amelio, Michael Iván Carrier, and Jeannette Bayardelle.
The musical, nominated for nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, reimagines the fate of Juliet by envisioning a story where she chooses life after Romeo’s death. Featuring chart-topping hits like “Roar,” “I Want It That Way,” and “Since U Been Gone,” & Juliet blends Shakespearean drama with a modern pop soundtrack.
The production, directed by Luke Sheppard, showcases choreography by Jennifer Weber, scenic design by Soutra Gilmour, and costume design by Paloma Young.
The show opened in November 2022 and became the first new musical of the 2022–2023 season to announce its financial recoupment.
A New Stage for Representation
Justice Jackson’s Broadway debut serves as a powerful testament to breaking barriers and pursuing passions beyond traditional expectations.
Her appearance in & Juliet not only highlights her personal journey but also brings attention to the transformative power of representation in the arts and law alike.
