Misty Copeland to Make Broadway Debut in ‘On the Town’ in August

Misty Copeland for Vanity Fair photographed by Patrick Frase

Misty Copeland just can’t stop making history. The ballerina, who recently became the first Afro-American woman to be named Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, will make her Broadway debut this summer in the musical On the Town .

For a two-week run that will begin on August 25th, Misty is set to play Ivy Smith, an aspiring ballet dancer.

Misty Copeland: ‘Swan Lake’ Role is a “Huge Step for the Ballet World”

On the Town is inspired by Jerome Robbins’ 1944 ballet, Fancy Free , and introduced several popular classic songs, such as “New York, New York.”

The story follows three American sailors on a 24-hour shore leave in New York City during WWII. Each of them meets and quickly connects with a woman.

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“It’s such a beautiful time right now, I think, for dance, and especially for ballet and bringing it to a much broader audience…” Copeland 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.”

Before her promotion to a principal dancer with ABT on June 30th, Copeland took on the lead roles in both ABT’s Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet .

[via playbill.com ]