Charlie D’Amelio is headed to Verona, I mean the cast of & Juliet

Charlie D'Amelio is headed to Verona, I mean the cast of & Juliet

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of the campus.

This article was written by a student writer from her UCF chapter on her campus.

TikTok star Charli D’Amelio just announced her next career move: going to Broadway. Yes, that’s right, D’Amelio joins the hit Broadway troupe and Juliet as Charmian, a member of a dance-filled troupe. This casting choice has left many scratching their heads and opened up a conversation about casting on Broadway.

In an Instagram post dated September 30, D’Amelio announced her addition as a new member of the & Juliet cast. “I’m so excited to finally be participating and joining the cast of & Juliet on Broadway! This has been my ultimate dream since I was a little girl, but it always seemed like something I could only admire from afar…” she wrote.

D’Amelio rose to fame by posting TikTok videos of her dancing in 2019 and 2020, quickly amassing millions of followers. At one point, she became the most followed person on TikTok. Her rapid rise has attracted brand deals and collaborations, which has dramatically increased her following. Her older sister Dixie D’Amelio and their parents Heidi and Mark D’Amelio got a taste of TikTok fame through their accounts. In 2021, the family launched their own TV show in partnership with Hulu, The D’Amelio Show.

In the fall of 2022, Charli D’Amelio appeared on Season 31 of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with longtime dancer Mark Ballas. Also appearing this season was D’Amelio’s mother, Heidi D’Amelio, who partnered with Dancing with the Stars pro Artem Chigvintsev, although she was eliminated in the eighth round. Her appearance on the show propelled her to more audiences and showcased her amazing dancing skills. Her talents don’t stop at dancing only; She has also released her own music, including her song “If You Ask Me” in 2022.

An original Charlie D’Amelio song, if you ask me

The Internet had very mixed reviews with her addition to the cast of & Juliet. D’Amelio’s supporters expressed their congratulations in her comments sections, but many people are against the decision. Some argue that this casting choice alienates those with traditional theater training.

As one commenter wrote on her Instagram post, “People train their whole lives to do this and I literally took it because she’s ‘Charli D’Amelio’ and yes she’s good at dancing but there are also a lot of other people out there who actually work on what they’re getting at.”

Fans were quick to defend D’Amelio, pointing to her years of dance training and pointing out that this is an uncommon move on Broadway. For many years, Broadway shows have added celebrities to the cast, called “stunt casting.” This tactic is used in hopes of gaining media support to generate more support for shows, thus generating more revenue from ticket sales.

Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas perform for the Season 31 finale

However, this is no ordinary case of erotic acting. Unlike most stunt actors, which usually put celebrities in more prominent roles, D’Amelio has an extensive background in dance and was chosen as a member of the group. Some memorable examples of sexy Broadway actors include Reba McEntire in Annie Get Your Gun, Brendon Urie in Kinky Boots, Cameron Dallas in Mean Girls, and Wendy Williams in Chicago. Although these examples did not enhance the talent on the show, they did attract more attention to the production.

Many current cast members and Juliet shared their excitement for D’Amelio’s addition on social media. From D’Amelio’s Instagram, she seems to be perfectly attuned to sharing photos and videos with the actors in and out of rehearsal. The musical’s choreography matches well with its repertoire, including hip-hop and jazz numbers.

She will debut in & Juliet on October 29 and will appear through January 19 at the Stephen Sondheim Theater.

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