Adam Taylor/ABCJust before the clock strikes midnight on Broadway's Cinderella, the musical is gaining a Real Housewife!
NeNe Leakes has joined the cast and will play the main character Ella's wicked stepmother, Madame, starting on Nov. 25. This marks the Broadway debut of the Real Housewives of Atlanta star, who will be among the final performers to take part in the show. Organizers announced this week that the musical will close on Jan. 3, 2015, while a national tour will follow.
"It's official! I am headed 2 BROADWAY CINDERELLA Nov 25th," Leakes tweeted. "Ain't God good 2 a little black girl from Athens Ga."
Leakes, who took the Dancing With The Stars stage this past spring (once as Disney's Cruella de Vil, see above), will replace fellow DWTS alum and former The View co-host Sherri Shepherd, who will assume the role of Madame on Sept. 9, taking over for veteran Broadway performer Nancy Opel.
At that time, Keke Palmer will start playing Ella, replacing Paige Faure, who will reprise the role in the musical's national tour. Both Palmer, who recently transformed her look, and Shepherd are making their own Broadway debuts and will be the first African-American performers to play the title role of Cinderella and her wicked stepmother on Broadway.
Broadway star Laura Osnes was the first actress to play main character Ella in the current musical production, which is not affiliated with Disney. Carly Rae Jepsen played the part for four months earlier this year, starring opposite The Nanny alum Fran Drescher.
Leakes' role does involve some singing, although her character has no solo numbers. Check out a video of Drescher playing Madame in Cinderella below.