Sherri Shepherd to Play the Genie in Broadway's 'Aladdin'

Sherri Shepherd is set to join the Broadway production of "Aladdin" as the Genie, a role she says she is "beyond thrilled" to take on. The Daytime Emmy-winning talk show host and NAACP Image Award winner will perform in the hit musical from October 16 through January 3.

Shepherd, who has previously taken her family and young relatives to see the show, said she never imagined becoming part of the production. She recalled watching Stephanie Mills in "The Wiz" as a child and hopes to inspire young audience members in a similar way.

To prepare for the wisecracking, high-energy part—which earned James Monroe Iglehart a Tony Award in 2014—Shepherd is taking dance and voice lessons. She has also been practicing her rendition of the signature song "Friend Like Me" during long walks through the city.

Acknowledging that the role pushes her beyond her comfort zone, Shepherd said her career has never followed an easy path, adding that she tends to say yes to things that scare her.

This will be Shepherd's second time on Broadway. In 2014, she played the evil Stepmother in "Cinderella." Her other stage credits include several off-Broadway productions. She has also sought advice from friends with Broadway experience, including Kristin Chenoweth and Wayne Brady.

"Aladdin," adapted from the 1992 animated film, follows a street urchin who discovers a genie in a lamp and hopes to win a princess's heart while staying true to himself. Shepherd said she wants children in the audience to see the possibilities and imagine themselves in powerful roles.