New York Times: Misty Copeland of American Ballet Theater to Join ‘On the Town’

Misty Copeland 

Credit Mary Altaffer/Associated Press

Foreground from left, Clyde Alves, Tony Yazbeck and Jay Armstrong Johnson in the revival of “On the Town” at the Lyric Theater. Credit Sara Krulwich/The New York Times 

The New York Times

By MICHAEL COOPER JULY 5, 2015

Misty Copeland, the ballerina who made history last week when she became the first African-American woman to be named a principal dancer with American Ballet Theater, is taking on a new challenge this summer: She is heading to Broadway.

Ms. Copeland plans to join the cast of “On the Town” for two weeks beginning on Aug. 25, stepping into the toe shoes of Megan Fairchild, the New York City Ballet principal dancer who originally played the role of Ivy in the production and is leaving the show next month.

Going to Broadway is the latest step in an extraordinary year for Ms. Copeland that has seen her dance some of ballet’s biggest roles, earn a promotion to principal, be profiled by “60 Minutes” and make the cover of Time magazine. In an interview, she said that she was looking forward to being part of a moment in which several top ballet stars are being featured a mile south of Lincoln Center on Broadway. In addition to “On the Town,” the dance-rich “An American in Paris” is also putting a spotlight on ballet talent: It is directed by Christopher Wheeldon, a leading choreographer, and stars Robert Fairchild, another City Ballet principal, and Leanne Cope, a dancer with the Royal Ballet in London.