Broadway has a Hottie new star
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NEED TO KNOW
- Megan Thee Stallion made her Broadway debut in Moulin Rouge! The Musical, as the first female-identifying performer to play Zidler
- The show now includes a special curtain call number featuring a medley of Megan’s hits like “WAP” and “Savage”
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical will end its seven-year run in July, making Megan’s casting a milestone for its closing celebrations
The Hotties were out in full force on Tuesday, March 24, as Megan Thee Stallion took her first Broadway bow in Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
PEOPLE was among the starry crowd at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in New York City, where the three-time Grammy Award-winning rapper and actress kicked off a strictly limited eight-week engagement in the stage adaptation of Baz Luhrmann's 2001 film.
She's playing Zidler, the flamboyant impresario of the titular Parisian nightclub who guides its centerpiece star, Satine (Kelsie Watts), as two men — the controlling Duke of Monroth (David Harris) and the love-struck songwriter Christian (Christian Douglas) — vie for her heart.
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It’s a role that requires a commanding presence, and that’s where Megan thrives.
From the moment she strides onto the stage, the Houston native feels right at home as the evening’s emcee, anchoring the high-energy production with the same confidence that has made her a force in music. This is no stunt casting or blink-and-you-miss-it cameo; Megan remains a steady presence throughout the show, guiding the audience through the spectacle with ease.
She has theatergoers eating out of the palm of her hand the entire time, her natural charisma radiating through every line delivery.
The rapper leans into the role’s humor, adding playful asides and earning some of the night’s biggest laughs. She also makes the part distinctly her own, breaking the fourth wall to shout out the Hotties in the room and peppering in her signature “ahh” ad-lib to bring a modern swagger to the Moulin Rouge that feels both unexpected and entirely welcome.
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Vocally, Megan finds her lane within the show’s pop-heavy score by playing to her strengths. Rather than trying to match the musical theater stylings of her castmates, she incorporates her rap sensibility into the numbers, delivering her lines with rhythm and attitude that keep the energy high and the audience engaged.
She looks great, too, in at least four new sultry custom looks from costume designer Catherine Zuber.
And just when you think you've seen Megan do it all, she pivots back to the moves that made her a star. In a special curtain call performance, the chart-topper raps a medley of her hits — specifically "WAP," "Savage" and "Body" — added to the show for her run.
The surprise had the entire house on its feet Tuesday night, with stars like Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish and Todrick Hall applauding and dancing in their seats.
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Megan, 31, is the first female-identifying performer to take on the role of Zidler in any production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical worldwide.
The character was made famous on screen by Jim Broadbent. On stage, it's been played by a slew of stars like Danny Burstein — who won a Tony Award for his role — Tituss Burgess, Boy George, Wayne Brady and most recently, RuPaul's Drag Race winner Bob the Drag Queen.
It's no surprise Megan's blazing trails. In her career, she's become one of the most decorated and influential artists of her generation, with three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits: “HISS,” “Savage (Remix)” with Beyoncé and “WAP” with Cardi B.
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Beyond music, Megan has steadily expanded her presence onscreen, appearing in Dicks: The Musical, 2024’s Mean Girls, STARZ’s P-Valley and the Marvel series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. She also hosted the MTV Video Music Awards, Saturday Night Live and co-hosted The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
As an entrepreneur, Megan launched her tequila brand Chicas Divertidas in February 2025. The liquor is being use in a specialty cocktail now on sale at Moulin Rouge! The Musical, alongside new merch celebrating Megan's run.
Megan also leads the Pete and Thomas Foundation, a nonprofit focused on education, housing and health and wellness initiatives supporting women, children, senior citizens and underserved communities in Houston and beyond.
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Fans can catch Megan in Moulin Rouge! The Musical through Sunday, May 17. She joins a principal cast that also includes André Ward, Ricky Rojas, Sarah Bowden, Rayven Bailey, Donnie Hammon and Jeigh Madjus.
The musical, with a book by John Logan, combines iconic songs from the movie with new chart-topping hits released since its premiere. Its score spans over 160 years of music, from Offenbach to Lady Gaga.
"Stepping onto the Broadway stage and joining the Moulin Rouge! The Musical team is an absolute honor," Megan previously said in a statement. "I’ve always believed in pushing myself creatively and theater is definitely a new opportunity that I’m excited to embrace. Broadway demands a different level of discipline, preparation and storytelling, but I’m up for the challenge and can’t wait for the Hotties to see a new side of me."
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Moulin Rouge! The Musical opened in 2019, and went on to win 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical.
In February, producers announced the Alex Timbers-directed hit would play its final performance on July 26 after a successful seven-year tenure, totaling over 2,200 performances.
Producer Carmen Pavlovic called Megan's role a milestone moment for the production as it prepares to bring its celebrated run to a close.
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“Welcoming Megan Thee Stallion into the Moulin Rouge! The Musical community is a thrilling moment for us,” Pavlovic said. “Megan is a true global superstar. She is one of the most influential artists of her generation and her impact on music and culture is undeniable."
"This historic casting is a major part of our closing celebrations: our farewell gift to Broadway audiences and one of our biggest announcements in the history of Moulin Rouge! The Musical," Pavlovic continued. "We want our show to go out with a spectacular bang, and Megan is the force of nature to lead us there. And yes, there will be a hint of music from her own iconic catalogue. It’s an unmissable moment for both Megan’s fans and ours."
Tickets for Moulin Rouge! The Musical are now on sale.
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