NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 25: NeNe Leakes and Joe Carroll attend the "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella" Broadway curtain call with NeNe Leakes and KeKe Palmer at Broadway Theatre on November 25, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 25: NeNe Leakes and Joe Carroll attend the "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella" Broadway curtain call with NeNe Leakes and KeKe Palmer at Broadway Theatre on November 25, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
NeNe Leakes' made her debut on "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella" on Broadway last night. She will be playing the evil stepmother Madame through the final show on January 3.
She told NBC News before opening night how tough it's been: "It's not an easy role to play. I'm struggling with my voice now — sleeping with a humidifier and trying to make it to opening night. It's a lot of work. Eight shows are a lot of shows in one week. But it's definitely a dream come true. I think every actor dreams of doing Broadway one day."
"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" veteran has done other reality TV ("Celebrity Apprentice"), scripted TV ("Glee," "The New Normal") and Vegas ("Zumanity"). She seems to be more than tired of the "Real Housewives" drama but not necessarily the paycheck.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 25: NeNe Leakes attends the "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella" Broadway curtain call with NeNe Leakes and KeKe Palmer at Broadway Theatre on November 25, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 25: NeNe Leakes attends the "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella" Broadway curtain call with NeNe Leakes and KeKe Palmer at Broadway Theatre on November 25, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 25: NeNe Leakes attends the "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella" Broadway curtain call with NeNe Leakes and KeKe Palmer at Broadway Theatre on November 25, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 25: NeNe Leakes attends the "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella" Broadway curtain call with NeNe Leakes and KeKe Palmer at Broadway Theatre on November 25, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.
Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.
