When Kandi Burruss steps onto the stage of the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on December 11, 2025, it won’t just be another Broadway debut—it’ll be a homecoming. The Grammy-winning songwriter and Real Housewives of Atlanta star is returning to the Great White Way to play & Juliet’s sharp-tongued, scene-stealing Angélique, replacing Cheryl Porter in a limited engagement that runs through March 8, 2026. And yes, she’s already hyping it on Instagram: "This is gonna be so fun. Y’all gotta come see me in NYC!"

From Hit Songs to Stage Lights

Burruss, 48, didn’t need Broadway to cement her legacy. She co-wrote TLC’s Grammy-winning "No Scrubs," Destiny Child’s "Bills, Bills, Bills," and songs for Pink, Ariana Grande, and Ed Sheeran. But her first Broadway turn in 2018 as Matron "Mama" Morton in Chicago proved she could command a live audience—not just a recording booth. Now, she’s back, this time as Angélique, Juliet’s formidable French nanny turned moral compass in David West Read’s cheeky reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy. The twist? Juliet lives. And she dances through a playlist of Max Martin bangers instead of dying tragically.

A Cast in Motion

The & Juliet cast is shifting like a well-choreographed pop song. On November 4, 2025, Australian original Hayden Tee steps in as Lance for three weeks, while Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart returns from December 2 through March 8, 2026. Meanwhile, Teal Wicks, who originated Anne Hathaway on the North American tour, takes over the role from November 24, 2025, to February 22, 2026, as Alison Luff steps away temporarily. Gianna Harris remains Juliet, Drew Gehling still plays Shakespeare, and Liam Pearce is Romeo—all keeping the energy high while the ensemble of 18 shifts around them.

And here’s the twist: just weeks after Burruss joins, the live-film capture of the 2023 & Juliet revival—with Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez—hits theaters on December 5, 2024. Fans will be able to compare the original cast’s interpretation with Burruss’s fresh take just months later.

Beyond the Stage: The Producer

Don’t mistake Burruss’s return to acting as a full-time pivot. She’s been quietly building a producing empire behind the scenes. In 2022, she produced Thoughts of a Colored Man and the Tony-nominated revival of The Piano Lesson. Last year, she signed on to produce the revival of The Wiz. And now, per Deadline’s October 6, 2024 announcement, she’s producing Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, starring Taraji P. Henson and Cedric The Entertainer, set to open in spring 2026. That means her Broadway presence won’t fade after March 2026—it’ll just change form.

Her husband, Todd Tucker, told BravoTV Daily Dish he’s "incredibly proud" of her. "She’s always been a performer at heart," he said. "This is where she belongs."

Why This Matters

Burruss’s casting isn’t just celebrity bait. It’s a signal. Broadway is increasingly blending pop culture’s biggest names with its traditional storytelling—and audiences are responding. When a Grammy winner with 20+ years in music and reality TV steps onto a stage that once hosted only classically trained actors, it says something: talent doesn’t come in one flavor. The show’s success—over 1,000 performances since its 2019 debut, grossing more than $120 million globally—proves audiences want fun, high-energy, emotionally resonant theater. Burruss brings authenticity, charisma, and a lifetime of stage presence. She’s not just playing Angélique. She’s redefining who gets to be on Broadway.

What’s Next?

The & Juliet run with Burruss runs through March 8, 2026—though some sources list March 11, creating a small but telling discrepancy. Either way, tickets are expected to sell fast. Her Instagram posts have already sparked a surge in search traffic for the show. Meanwhile, the Joe Turner’s Come and Gone revival looms large. If Burruss’s production succeeds, she’ll become one of the few Black women producers to helm a major Broadway revival starring two A-listers. That’s not just a career milestone—it’s industry history.