Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson makes Broadway debut, fulfilling lifelong dream
A Historic night on Broadway
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson fulfilled a lifelong dream on Saturday night, making her Broadway debut in the hit musical & Juliet for a one-night-only performance.
Justice Jackson, 54, took the stage in a walk-on role, joining the ensemble of the jukebox musical that reimagines the ending of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
The production, which puts a modern spin on the classic tragedy, follows Juliet as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery rather than meeting her untimely death.
Behind the scenes of Justice Jackson's performance
The musical shared behind-the-scenes footage of Justice Jackson’s preparations for her Broadway appearance, marking a special moment for the Justice, who has long been a fan of the stage.
From the Supreme Court to the stage
In her memoir, Lovely One, released in September, Jackson reflected on her love of theater and her aspirations while applying to Harvard University.
"I, a Miami girl from a modest background with an unabashed love of theater, dreamed of one day ascending to the highest court in the land—and I had said so in one of my supplemental application essays," Jackson wrote. "I expressed that I wished to attend Harvard as I believed it might help me ‘to fulfill my fantasy of becoming the first Black, female Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage.’"
The Justice’s appearance offered audiences a glimpse of her outside the courtroom, showcasing a different side of the history-making jurist who became the first Black woman to serve on the nation’s highest court.
Coincidentally, the musical’s ensemble also features Charli D’Amelio, a social media star and world-famous TikToker, though there is no word if she appeared onstage during Justice Jackson’s performance.
Check out a snippet of Justice Kentaji Brown Jackson on Broadway below:
The Source: This report contains information from &Juliet and a press release from the musical.