Misty Copeland Set to Conquer Broadway
Misty Copeland is having the best summer ever! Just days after making history, becoming the first African-American woman to earn the title of Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theater, the outstanding ballerina already has her next move in place: Broadway.
According to IndieWire, Copeland is joining the cast of the musical On the Town for a brief two-week run, beginning on August 25. In an ironically fitting role, she will play a New York City Ballet principal dancer named Ivy.
On the Town is a 1944 musical by Leonard Bernstein originally based on a Jerome Robbins ballet, which originally premiered at the American Ballet Theater. It follows three sailors on a 24-hour leave in New York City during World War II and features the famous song "New York, New York." Copeland will play the female lead Ivy, who falls in love with one of the sailors.
Copeland is still riding high from her recently announced promotion and sees this as another opportunity to showcase her talents and promote the art of dance. "It's such a beautiful time right now, I think, for dance, and especially for ballet and bringing it to a much broader audience," she told the New York Times. "I always say that it has changed my life, and it's such a beautiful thing to be a part of — and I think people are realizing that, a new generation is realizing that. It's so exciting."
Congratulations on the amazing new gig, Misty! Watch her continue to inspire in this B*Real exclusive clip, where she talks self-discovery and the importance of mentoring, below:
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