Reece Weaver debuts as Roxie Hart in Broadway's Chicago

Former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Reece Weaver has made her Broadway debut in the musical Chicago, stepping into the role of murderess Roxie Hart. Her casting, confirmed earlier this week for a six-week run at New York's Ambassador Theatre, had sparked debate over the practice of selecting celebrities for major roles.

Weaver gained prominence through the Netflix docuseries America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Her exit from the squad was a major storyline in the show's third season. She described landing the Broadway role as one of her "biggest dreams as a performer" in a TikTok post that has been viewed more than six million times.

Opening night reception

Audience member Sealy Sikes, who attended the opening night with her mother, told reporters the crowd loved Weaver. Sikes noted some initial shakiness but said Weaver commanded the stage. "If I wasn't hyper aware that it was her first time, I wouldn't have even thought anything about it," Sikes said. Clips on social media showed the audience erupting in applause as Weaver took her first bow.

Sikes, 28, analyzed Weaver's performance across the role's core skills. "Her strong suit is the acting and dancing," Sikes stated. "She's a great singer but of the three talents that's probably not her strong suit, relatively speaking. But even then, she was great."

The stunt casting debate

The decision to cast Weaver, known in theatre as 'stunt casting', led to criticism that her profile outweighed her talent. Theatre critic Mickey-Jo Boucher told Newsbeat such casting is often used to "interest ticket buyers" for long-running shows that might be "slowing down at the box office". He acknowledged the practice is not always popular, cautioning against it becoming so widespread that established theatre actors miss opportunities.

"the most important thing is that the quality of the show is the highest that it can be," Boucher said. Fan Samantha Milo, 19, who waited at the stage door on Weaver's debut night, acknowledged the stunt casting element but defended Weaver's credentials. "She earned her spot there, she has been dancing and performing her whole life," Milo said.

A strategy for long-running shows

Stunt casting is presented as a practical strategy for enduring productions. Chicago is the longest-running show on Broadway. Sikes suggested it could be a positive for such classics. "If that's something that gets people back in the seats and re-interested in a classic that has to just continuously fill out that auditorium, then I would say that's a good thing," Sikes explained. Boucher added that a celebrity in a role can help keep many other people employed.

Weaver's casting follows other recent examples of celebrity casting on Broadway. The source cites several instances from this year and January.

Drawing new audiences

A key argument for the casting is its power to attract new fans. Milo pointed out that Weaver's involvement helps "new fans who may never have thought to go and see Chicago, find a way to enjoy the show." This aligns with Boucher's observation about driving ticket sales. The production runs until 18 October, with Weaver's fans already making trips to the theatre to see her perform.