Music
Megan Thee Stallion is back on stage in Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
The Grammy Award-winning rapper returned to the spotlight inside New York’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre on Thursday evening after missing Wednesday’s performance and exiting mid-show on Tuesday night after falling ill. At the time, her rep said she was rushed to the hospital where she was being treated. On Wednesday morning, Megan’s rep shared a statement with The Hollywood Reporter to explain the medical emergency and eventual diagnosis.
“On Tuesday evening, Megan was transported to a local hospital to undergo a medical evaluation after experiencing concerning symptoms. Doctors ultimately identified extreme exhaustion, dehydration, vasoconstriction and low metabolic levels as the cause of her symptoms. Megan has since been treated, discharged and is now resting.”
Megan Thee Stallion followed it up with an update of her own on Instagram. “Last night was a real wake-up call for me. I’ve been pushing myself past my limits lately, running on empty, and my body finally said enough. It honestly scared me. I thought I was gonna faint on stage, I really tried to push through my performance but I just couldn’t. Hotties I wanna be real with y’all because you mean everything to me and I hate letting yall down,” she posted. “I just need one day to rest, reset, and take care of myself the way I should have been..I’ll be right back on that stage Thursday, stronger, clearer, and ready to give you percent the way you deserve.”
She did just that by returning to the stage on Thursday night in the role of Zidler. The gig marks not only her first ever Broadway performance but also the first time a woman has performed the role in the beloved and long-running jukebox musical. Boldfaced names that have been seated for her performances have included Queen Latifah and Tiffany Haddish, among others. The show has also featured Meg performing her songs “Savage” and “Body.”
When THR checked for available seats on ATG Tickets, we found that the show was sold-out for Megan’s big return. Earlier today, E! News shared a video that featured Megan exiting a black SUV while wearing a pink sweatsuit and furry boots and entering the Al Hirschfeld Theatre ahead of tonight’s performance, and a rep for the show confirmed her return. THR reached out to her rep for additional comment.
The role of Zidler has previously been filled by the likes of Boy George, Wayne Brady, Tituss Burgess and most recently Bob the Drag Queen. It was originated by Danny Burstein, a veteran Broadway star who won a Tony for his performance. “I’ve always believed in pushing myself creatively,” Megan Thee Stallion said in a statement about joining the show. “And theater is definitely a new opportunity that I’m excited to embrace.”