Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson swapped her judge's robes for Broadway attire Saturday night, stepping onto the stage for her much-anticipated debut at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. This single performance was not just any ordinary night; it marked Jackson as the first member of the U.S. Supreme Court to make such an appearance on Broadway, creating waves of excitement and curiosity around her role.
Her Broadway debut came with great fanfare and was widely celebrated by both audiences and fellow performers. Jackson participated in the hit musical & Juliet, which offers a fun and empowering reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet. The show’s production was enthusiastic to invite her, crafting two new scenes just for her participation, making it a unique evening for theatergoers.
“I think the lesson is: don't give up and don't be deterred, you can do it. And again, anything is possible,” Jackson reflected after her performance. This sentiment bears additional weight, considering Jackson had only recently achieved another dream of becoming the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. Her appearance on Broadway was not merely a whimsical hope but the culmination of decades of aspiration and love for the performing arts.
After her performance, Jackson engaged with the audience during a post-show talkback, sharing intimate glimpses of her life-long passion for theater. She made it clear how integral this performance was to her life. “This has been a dream of mine,” she stated, her joy palpable through the screen during videos shared widely on social media. Clips showing her jovially preparing behind the scenes contributed to her growing charm factor as both judge and performer.
But what’s remarkable about Jackson’s Broadway debut is not solely her performance itself but its significance. At one point, she joyfully exclaimed, "I did it, I made it to Broadway!" This statement crystallizes her tenacity, which has been noted as she navigated the rigorous world of law and now, the equally challenging sphere of theater.
This role on Broadway traced back to her childhood desire to perform. Jackson's admittance to having participated in drama during her time at Harvard goes to show her true enthusiasm for the arts. “I wished to attend Harvard as I believed it might help me ‘to fulfill my fantasy of becoming the first Black, female Supreme Court Justice to appear on a Broadway stage,'” she mentioned within the pages of her memoir, Lovely One. With humor and nostalgia, she recalled her early days of engaging with theater by sharing, “My best friend was a girl named Sunny Schleifer, and the two of us would make up skits and dress up.”
Yet, Jackson’s Broadway performance has sparked varied responses. While many applauded her courage and commitment to her art, some critics raised eyebrows concerning the propriety of a sitting Supreme Court Justice performing on stage. Notably, tensions around judicial conduct have increased as public scrutiny of the personal and professional endeavors of Supreme Court Justices has intensified. Jackson’s appearance on Broadway nonetheless galvanized many, with political commentator Karen Finney exclaiming, “LOVE THIS! Find your joy!”
This public performance also coincides with Jackson's recent literary venture, having released her memoir just prior to her Broadway appearance. The memoir delves deeply within her personal life, exploring her enduring love for theater and underscoring her historic role as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. It joins the ranks of memoirs by several of her colleagues who have also detailed their lives, shaping how justices are perceived beyond the court.
Jackson's engagement with theater challenges conventions and paves new paths for future justices, combining her dual passions for law and performing arts. Her swift transition from courtroom to stage has painted her as not just a jurist but also as an artistic figure. The juxtaposition of her roles invites the public to reconsider what it means to be both grounded in law and inspired by art.
Reflecting on her trip to the Broadway stage, she poignantly captured the message of her life’s work, saying, “I think it means anything is possible,” reiteratively echoing the triumph of following dreams and the often-invisible intersections of diverse passions.
What's next for Jackson? The Supreme Court is currently on recess until New Year’s, where justices are expected to return to conference on significant cases. Until then, Jackson's performance echoes, inviting people to celebrate both the structured and the jubilant sides of life—both as a justice and as Ketanji Brown Jackson, the Broadway star.
