Few would be surprised to see a Supreme Court justice talk about having childhood dreams, but one particular item that Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson checked off her list this weekend might raise an eyebrow or two.
Jackson made her Broadway debut on Saturday with a one-night-only role in the jukebox musical “& Juliet,” which, according to Playbill“Flips the script on the William Shakespeare classic and imagines what would happen next if Juliet hadn’t ended everything because of Romeo.”.”
The Broadway production announced Jackson's special appearance in a Instagram Post last week quoting her memoir “Beautiful,” which was released in September. In her book, Jackson writes about two ambitions that she revealed in a Harvard application essay: first, “to rise to the highest court in the land” and second, “to realize my fantasy of becoming the first black, female Supreme Court justice to do so.” appears.” on a Broadway stage.”
“Let’s make this teenage dream come true, Justice Jackson,” the production wrote.
Jackson's ensemble role was written specifically for her, she said NPR hours before the call, adding: “So I'm very excited.”
The day after her cameo appearance “& Julia” Shared behind-the-scenes footage from Jackson's rehearsals and a selection of her moments on stage.
“Women’s empowerment!” she says in a stage clip, flashing a Shaka sign as the crowd roars. “Sick.”
The video concludes with another clip of Jackson triumphantly declaring, “I did it!” I made it to Broadway!”
As jarring as it may seem, it's not entirely unlikely that it will be the former federal defender's turn on Broadway.
“I just always loved theater and felt very comfortable on stage,” Jackson said in an interview “CBS Mornings” segment that aired on Monday. During the interview, the judge talked about her performing at a young age and feeling that “theater people” have always been her soulmate.
Jackson even took part in theater performances at Harvard and appeared in a production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” NPR. In her “CBS Mornings” interview, Jackson also jokingly recalled surpassing Matt Damon when they were scene partners in an acting class.
“I also think it's very important to remind people that judges are people, that we have dreams and that we are public servants and not so distant from the people we serve,” she said.
“I think this moment reinforces my belief that anything is possible.”