From Aida to The Color Purple: Celebrating Heather Headley on the Stage

Tony Award winner Heather Headley celebrates her birthday October 5.

Headley made her Broadway debut as Nala in the original 1997 cast of The Lion King. She returned to Broadway in 2000, giving a Tony-winning performance in Aida. Since then, she has appeared on Broadway as a guest star in the 2013 concert show Il Divo—A Musical Affair and as Shug Avery in the Tony-nominated revival of The Color Purple. Headley also earned an Olivier Award nomination for starring in the London musical stage adaptation of the Whitney Houston film The Bodyguard.

In addition to her stage work, can be seen on screen in She's Gotta Have It, Sweet Magnolia's, and more.

Headley is set to star as the Witch in Into the Woods alongside Sara Bareilles, Christian Borle, Ashley Park, and more with New York City Center Encores! May 4–15, 2022.

From Lion King to Aida to The Color Purple: Look Back at Heather Headley on the Stage

The_Color_Purple_Broadway_Production_Photo_Heather Headley_HR — From Lion King to Aida to The Color Purple: Look Back at Heather Headley on the Stage

22 PHOTOS

Lion_King_Production_Photo_Heather Headley — Heather Headley in *The Lion King*

Lion_King_Production_Photo_Heather Headley_Jason Raize — Jason Raize and Heather Headley in *The Lion King*

Aida Original HR — Adam Pascal and Heather Headley in *Aida*

Joan Marcus

Aida_Broadway_Production_Photo_2000_Heather Headley_HR — Heather Headley in *Aida*

Joan Marcus

Sherie Rene Scott, Adam Pascal, and Heather Headley

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