Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to fulfill dream of performing on Broadway

Ketanji Brown Jackson is set to fulfill a long-held dream this Saturday, stepping on to Broadway in a one-night performance of the musical & Juliet.

The 54-year-old liberal supreme court justice will take on an ensemble role in the show, realising a goal she first articulated in her Harvard University application essay. Jackson will appear in the 8pm ET performance and participate in a post-show talkback with audience members.

In an Instagram post, the show’s producers referenced Jackson’s memoir Lovely One, celebrating her teenage fantasy of becoming the first Black female supreme court justice to appear on a Broadway stage. The production noted they would help “make that teenage dream come true”.

& Juliet offers a modern reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, featuring pop hits from artists like Britney Spears and Katy Perry. The musical rewrites the tragic original ending, exploring an alternative narrative for Juliet.

Jackson has previously hinted at her theatrical aspirations, writing in her book how she used to compete in dramatic speech orations while at Harvard. In October, during a press tour, she performed a one-woman scene playing multiple characters for public radio program Notes from America at the National Archives in Washington. In September, she sang lines from The Wiz at the Apollo Theater in New York.

She has also shared stories about performing a scene at Harvard alongside the actor Matt Damon, claiming she received better reviews from their professor.

While details about Jackson’s specific role remain limited, the entertainment outlet Deadline reported that an ensemble spot was created specifically for her.

This Broadway appearance crosses off another milestone for Jackson, who made history in 2022 as the first Black woman to serve on the United States supreme court.