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Standing ovations for the ultimate Broadway glow-ups. Join us as we celebrate performers who began in the wings—as understudies, standbys, and chorus members—before seizing center stage. From Sutton Foster leaping to Thoroughly Modern Millie and Audra McDonald rising from The Secret Garden, to Patina Miller, KO, Bernadette Peters, Shirley MacLaine, Elaine Stritch, Taye Diggs, Cheyenne Jackson, and Lea Michele.
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00:00Here she is, boys! Here she is!
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:08And today, we're counting down our picks for the Broadway icons that started off in the wings
00:12and worked their way up to theater stardom.
00:15I've got giant plans to shine!
00:21Number 10. Lea Michele.
00:23Considering how much of a star she became as an adult,
00:25it may seem hard to believe that Lea Michele got her start as a replacement actor and understudy.
00:42Yet, at just 8 years old, she did both in Les Miserables,
00:45four young Cosette and Gavroche, respectively.
00:48She then had a bit part in Ragtime the following year, gaining more experience along the way.
00:53Her next venture was in Fiddler on the Roof, where she had a mid-sized role as Sprinza.
00:58Michele would hit her big break as a principal performer in Spring Awakening,
01:02taking Broadway by Storm in 2006.
01:05Mama, the weeping.
01:08Mama, the angels.
01:13No sleep in heaven.
01:15From there, she scored lead after lead, including her dream role of Fanny Bryce in Funny Girl in 2022.
01:23Hey, Mr. Arnstein, here I am.
01:34Number 9. Cheyenne Jackson.
01:37He's become one of the most recognizable names in the modern Broadway scene,
01:41and it wasn't without plenty of hard work.
01:43Yeah, come on, everybody, and turn your head to the left.
01:49Come on, everybody, and turn your head to the right.
01:53Cheyenne Jackson got his first taste of the New York stage as a dishwasher in Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002,
01:59and later on as a standby for Rodimus in Aida.
02:02Through it all, he continued working hard there and in regional theater, where he saw more success.
02:07In 2005, his life changed when he earned the lead role of Chad in the Elvis Presley jukebox musical All Shook Up.
02:14From then on, his days in the chorus were over.
02:17From Xanadu to O'Mary, Jackson has proven to be a truly versatile actor capable of playing any character.
02:23When day is done, all through the night, all of my life.
02:33Number 8. Taye Diggs.
02:35When it comes to Broadway resumes, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more impressive one.
02:40Yeah, you, move over. Get your ass off that Range Rover.
02:43Ah, Brent.
02:45Yes, sir.
02:45Since the 1990s, Taye Diggs has portrayed several iconic and beloved characters, yet he too didn't start out receiving them.
02:54In 1994, he made his Broadway debut in the chorus of Carousel, where he also served as an understudy for Jigger Cragen.
03:01Just two years later, he originated the part of Benny in Rent, and the rest is history.
03:06He's filled in for other principal roles in shows like Wicked and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
03:22His career has stayed on the rise, and after his run as the villain in Moulin Rouge, The Sky is the Limit.
03:27If there was a Mount Rushmore of Broadway, she would surely be on it.
03:44From the 1940s all the way to the 2010s, Elaine Stritch was a staple of the theater world.
03:49I was very, very busy.
03:51Yeah.
03:53And I was doing eight shows a week on Broadway through it all, you know.
03:56Sometimes I'd go right from the party to the matinee.
04:00Though her icon status is undisputed, even she had humble beginnings in the children's production Bobino as a tiger and a cow.
04:07Just a couple of years later, she struck it big with a role in the 1946 play Loco.
04:12This kicked off a long and illustrious career, where she brought her infectious energy to every single part.
04:18Let's hear it for the ladies who watch everybody rise!
04:26Whether she was a replacement or a principal, her effort never faltered.
04:31With legendary runs in the 1970s shows Company and Showboat under her belt, it's no wonder why Stritch became a mainstay.
04:38A lot goes here!
04:42I'm still here!
04:46Yes!
04:47Number 6.
04:48Shirley MacLaine
04:49Even Academy Award-winning actresses have to start somewhere.
04:52Before Shirley MacLaine was considered an icon in her industry, she started out like most others, in the chorus.
04:59Her first stage appearance was as a member of the dance ensemble in Me and Juliet.
05:03Imagine my surprise, when once I realize, well it's nobody else but wonderful, beautiful me.
05:13The next year, she scored the part of Gladys in The Pajama Game.
05:17Her Broadway career halted afterwards, as she focused more on film and television roles.
05:22She achieved success in film adaptations of beloved musicals, including the lead in Sweet Charity.
05:27I landed, pow!
05:28Right in a pot of jam!
05:31What a setup!
05:32Holy cow!
05:33They'd never believe it if my friends could see me now!
05:38MacLaine returned to the stage in 1976, this time headlining her own show.
05:42It proved to be so successful that she returned for another in 1984, closing out her theater career with a bang.
05:49All kinds of music is pouring out of me cause somebody loves me at last.
06:01Number 5.
06:02Bernadette Peters
06:03On the small stage, she saw minor success as a child.
06:06As an adult in the big time, however, she had more hurdles to clear.
06:10My mother thought, I kind of said, why are you changing my name?
06:15And she gave me the excuse that it's too long to fit on the marquee.
06:23And at 5, you understood that?
06:25She wanted me to have more options in my career.
06:28Bernadette Peters started out as a standby in The Girl in the Freudian Slip.
06:32And her following venture, Johnny No Trump, closed after one performance.
06:36Her first true big break was as Josie in George M.
06:39From there, her spot in Broadway history was cemented.
06:42She has since had multiple successful runs, with her iconic portrayal of Annie Oakley earning her a Tony Award in 1999.
06:49Got no super, got no gold, but I got can't be bored or sold.
06:55I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night.
06:58She got the sun in the morning and the moon at night.
07:01In 2018, she took on the leading role in Hello, Dolly.
07:05And a few years later, she starred in a tribute to theater legend Stephen Sondheim.
07:09Number 4, KO.
07:26Though they ended their Broadway career in 2021, their impact on the industry can't be overstated.
07:31Building a better industry is more important than putting money in my pockets.
07:41Formerly known as Karen Olivo, KO got their start as an understudy for a part they would soon claim as their own, Mimi from Rent.
07:48After waiting in the wings during its initial run, they took on the role for the national tour.
07:53From there, they appeared as a main character in several shows, with the most memorable being Anita in West Side Story and Vanessa in In the Heights.
08:12KO's final big moment was as Satine in Moulin Rouge.
08:16Since then, they've performed in regional shows.
08:18Fans hope KO will someday return to the theater district.
08:23Number 3, Patina Miller.
08:33She's proof that you can go from ensemble to lead all in the same show.
08:37Let the cherry nail the world noise.
08:41Praise the swag.
08:43Praise the cheer.
08:45Praise the tune to the sky and the sky.
08:48In 2006, Patina Miller got her start in the chorus for Sister Act,
08:52where she also learned the role of Dolores Van Cartier as an understudy.
08:56That preparation set her up for success, with her taking on the part for her own esteemed West End and Broadway run years later in 2010.
09:03If you feel it, why conceal it?
09:07Let your soul rejoice.
09:09Praise the stage.
09:11Praise the game.
09:12Praise your voice.
09:14After leaving the production in 2012, she pivoted to her next endeavor as the leading player in Pippin.
09:21Her most recent theatrical stint was as the witch in the 2022 version of Into the Woods, adding yet another iconic character to her resume.
09:28It's the last midnight, so goodbye, oh, coming at your fast midnight.
09:39Number 2, Audra McDonald.
09:41With six Tony Awards to her name so far, it's hard to imagine her as anything but the starring role.
09:47Even legends like Audra McDonald got their start on the sidelines.
09:51She started out as a replacement for Aya in The Secret Garden, but it wouldn't take long for that to change.
09:56Thought I was going to make my Broadway debut, I ended up going out on the road to The Secret Garden, and then I did the road for a while, and then when I came back home, they said, okay, now would you like to go to Broadway?
10:06Her next endeavor, 1994's Carousel, took her from the wings to the third highest billing as Carrie.
10:12The ball started rolling there, and it hasn't stopped since.
10:15From Ragtime to Porgy and Bess, she's headed multiple runs of acclaimed Broadway shows.
10:33Her most recent stint as Rose in Gypsy has cemented her as one of the biggest industry icons of the 21st century, and deservedly so.
10:41I've been going to come in a roses!
10:45I've been going to come in a roses this time of the day!
10:53Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
10:57Phylicia Rashad.
10:58Her role in Raisin in the Sun took her from longtime ensemble member to leading player.
11:03In time, it will all come to light.
11:07The people made a kingdom out of nothing.
11:13They were the people that didn't make it cross the ocean.
11:16Kelly O'Hara.
11:17After humble beginnings in Jekyll and Hyde and Follies, she's become a household name.
11:22I love you.
11:29J.J. Neiman.
11:30After years in various ensembles, he scored his first lead in 2025's Catch Me If You Can.
11:36Goodbye to lives that I don't own
11:40I'm tired of living on the stage
11:43A life that's only on the page
11:46Matthew Morrison.
11:48Before his iconic portrayal of Link Larkin, he performed in the chorus of Footloose.
11:52Ocean of the ocean or the sun in the sky
11:55If you want or if you want it but I'll never ask why
11:58If you try to hold me down for the speed in your eye
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12:21Number 1. Sutton Foster
12:24If there's anyone who's proven that paying your dues in the beginning can pay off with an illustrious career
12:29It's her
12:30In 1992, Sutton Foster debuted in the chorus of the tour for the Will Rogers Follies
12:44Afterwards, she remained in the ensemble and as a replacement for several shows
12:49From Les Miserables to The Scarlet Pimpernel
12:51After a decade of work and plenty of experience in regional theater
12:55She got her first big break on Broadway as the titular role in Thoroughly Modern Millie
13:00Forget about the boy
13:02Forget about the boy
13:04Forget about the boy
13:08The floodgates opened from there
13:12With Foster securing multiple principal parts in Anything Goes, Little Women, Shrek, and more
13:18She's shown no signs of slowing down
13:20And we can't wait to see which classics she takes on next
13:24Astonishing
13:25At last
13:32Which former ensemble member do you think made the most impressive leap to principal role?
13:46Let us know in the comments below
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