Sabrina Carpenter’s “42nd Street” Revival: Tapping Toward a New Queer Broadway Dream

In the world of Broadway, sometimes the hottest casting rumors start not with a press release but with a collective gasp on theatre message boards. That’s exactly what happened when the name “Sabrina Carpenter”—pop superstar, chart-climber, and bona fide fashion chameleon—began swirling around a potential starring role in a major “42nd Street” revival. If true, this isn’t just big news for musical theatre nerds; it’s a glitter-bomb moment for queer fans who’ve long claimed Broadway as their cultural home base .

Let’s be clear: As of now, official confirmation is still pending. But the excitement is already palpable. Posts on BroadwayWorld’s legendary forum lit up when a user mused, “Sabrina Carpenter in 42ND STREET produced by Rudin sounds like Mad Libs.” The rumor mill kicked into high gear, with speculation that Sabrina—who will be 27 or 28 during the next Broadway season—could bring a fresh, contemporary energy to the iconic role of Peggy Sawyer .

For many LGBTQ+ folks, classic Broadway is more than nostalgia; it’s a playground for reinvention. “42nd Street,” with its campy backstage drama, over-the-top choreography, and rags-to-riches storyline, is pure queer catnip. The show’s famous “You’re going out there a youngster, but you’ve got to come back a star!” is as much a rallying cry for queer resilience as it is for Broadway hopefuls. Carpenter’s rumored casting has already inspired fan art, TikTok fancasts, and hope that the production might update not just its casting, but its cultural lens, too.

Queer audiences have always found themselves in the chorus lines of Broadway, even when their stories were coded or closeted. A Carpenter-led “42nd Street” offers a tantalizing prospect: a production that could center diverse identities and open its stage door even wider. If Sabrina brings her own creative team or advocates for inclusive casting, this revival could echo the energy of recent Broadway hits that have foregrounded LGBTQ+ talent both onstage and off .

Why would the queer community be so hyped about Sabrina Carpenter stepping into Peggy Sawyer’s tap shoes? For starters, Carpenter’s recent “Short n’ Sweet” tour has been a magnet for queer celebrities and fashionistas. Her now-viral “Juno” segment, where she playfully “arrests” someone in the audience for being “too hot,” has crowned everyone from Gigi Hadid to Anne Hathaway as honorary “Juno girls.” It’s a moment of playful, consent-based flirtation that’s gone wild on queer TikTok and Instagram .

Carpenter’s shows are already a safe haven for LGBTQ+ fans, with concert crowds awash in rainbow flags, gender-fluid fashion, and the kind of joyous, communal energy that makes Broadway’s best nights feel like Pride. Her embrace of queer aesthetics, both sartorially and in her music videos, has made her an accidental gay icon for the next generation—one whose fans don’t just watch from the sidelines, but storm the stage (sometimes literally).

Broadway is overdue for a new kind of leading lady—one who brings both star power and a lived commitment to diversity. If Sabrina Carpenter does headline “42nd Street,” she’ll join a lineage of pop-to-Broadway crossovers that includes Brandy in “Chicago,” Janelle Monáe in “The Color Purple,” and Neil Patrick Harris in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”

But this isn’t just about star casting. It’s about the stories Broadway tells, and who gets to tell them. Queer and trans performers, directors, and designers have always been the secret sauce behind Broadway’s sparkle, even if they weren’t always center stage. A high-profile, queer-inclusive “42nd Street” could set a precedent for future revivals: one where the backstage drama is as diverse as the audience in the mezzanine.

Imagine the possibilities: A Peggy Sawyer who’s not just a wide-eyed ingenue, but a millennial (or Gen Z) star navigating fame, gender, and sexuality in real time. A chorus line that reflects the real New York—queer, trans, Black, brown, disabled, and dazzling. Choreography that nods to ballroom culture and TikTok dance trends, all while honoring Busby Berkeley’s legacy. Costumes that play with gender and sparkle with camp. Dialogue that winks at the audience and knows exactly who it’s playing to.

Whether Sabrina’s casting becomes official or not, the mere rumor feels revolutionary. It’s a reminder that Broadway’s most beloved stories can—and should—evolve alongside the communities that keep them alive.

For LGBTQ+ folks, theatre has always been a place to dream big, defy gravity, and find family in the footlights. The buzz around Sabrina Carpenter’s “42nd Street” is more than a casting scoop; it’s a reflection of a Broadway that’s finally learning to tap dance to a new beat—one set by queer fans, for queer fans, with all the sequins and sass we deserve.

As the curtain rises on the next chapter of Broadway history, one thing’s clear: Whatever happens next, we’ll be front row, cheering on every tap, twirl, and triumphant queer moment.