Shoba Narayan (actress)

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Shoba Narayan
Shoba Narayan at Galaxy Con Columbus.jpg
Shoba Narayan at Galaxy Con Columbus 2025
Born (1989-11-05) November 5, 1989 (age 36)
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater Boston Conservatory at Berklee (2012)
OccupationMusical theatre actress

Shoba Narayan is an American musical theatre actress. She was the first South Asian to play Princess Jasmine in the Broadway show Aladdin . [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Early life

Narayan was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania to Indian immigrant parents. [4] The only Indian family in town, Narayan has said she was mocked by her classmates for her name. [5] She took dance classes in ballet and bharatanatyam, [1] as well as classes in voice, violin, and Carnatic music. [4] Interested in performing at a young age, her first leading role was as Dorothy in her eighth grade school production of The Wizard of Oz. [4]

She graduated from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee in 2012 and moved to New York City to perform in theater. [1]

Acting career

Narayan's first Broadway role was as Natasha in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. In that role, she was the first South Asian woman in a lead role on Broadway since Bombay Dreams in 2004. [1] [6]

She played Eliza Hamilton in the North American tour of Hamilton and Nessarose in Wicked . [1] [2] [3] She was the first South Asian actress to play Nessarose. [4]

YearMusicalRoleTypeRef
2016-2017Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812Ensemble, Natasha (understudy)Broadway [4] [6]
2018HamiltonEliza HamiltonNorth American Tour [7]
2019-2020WickedNessaroseBroadway [8]
2021-2023AladdinJasmineBroadway [9] [10]
2022Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ MusicalSimranRegional [11]

Dance

Narayan has worked as a teacher of bharatanatyam and has performed at weddings. [12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Shivaram, Deepa (2022-01-09). "Shoba Narayan's fight for South Asian representation began long before Jasmine". NPR. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  2. 1 2 "Interview: Shoba Narayan on Her Historic Ascent to Aladdin on Broadway". TheaterMania.com. 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  3. 1 2 "Michael Maliakel & Shoba Narayan to Lead Aladdin on Broadway". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Sullivan, Lindsey (2020-02-28). "Wicked's Shoba Narayan on Breaking Barriers and That Time She Let Lin-Manuel Miranda Go to Voicemail". www.broadway.com. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  5. ↑ "Broadway's 'Aladdin' Star Shoba Narayan: You Don't Need to Change Your Name". www.backstage.com. 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  6. 1 2 "A Dream Come True for Shoba Narayan, Tonight's Natasha in The Great Comet". Playbill. 2017-03-07. Archived from the original on 2024-12-07. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  7. ↑ Magazine, Brown Girl (2018-08-09). "'Hamilton's' Lead Actress Shoba Narayan Spills on her South Asian Roots and Journey to the Stage". Brown Girl Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  8. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Hamilton Alum Shoba Narayan Joins Broadway Cast of Wicked December 16". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2022-11-12. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  9. ↑ Smith, Paul Art (2021-09-28). "First Look at New Stars of Aladdin, Broadway Performances Resume Sept. 28". Broadway Direct. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  10. ↑ Gans, Andrew (2022-12-29). "Shoba Narayan Sets Final Performance Date in Broadway's Aladdin". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2024-04-18. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  11. ↑ Moynihan, Caitlin. "Shoba Narayan & Austin Colby to Star in World Premiere of Broadway-Aimed Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  12. ↑ Hope, Helen (2022-04-27). "Shoba Narayan is Bringing Bharatanatyam to Broadway and Beyond". Dance Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
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