Amber Riley Reveals Why She Won't Do Broadway: 'It's Not Sustainable or Healthy'
Amber Riley Reveals Why She Won't Do Broadway: 'It's Not Sustainable or Healthy'
Angelique Brenes, Dave QuinnSat, April 4, 2026 at 12:35 AM UTC
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Amber Riley in March 2025Credit: Robin L Marshall/Getty -
Amber Riley says Broadway's demanding schedule and lack of proper support make it unsustainable for performers
The Glee alum earned an Olivier Award for her role in the London revival of Dreamgirls, but hasn’t performed on Broadway
Riley credits Glee’s intense production schedule with teaching her discipline and professionalism in her career
Amber Riley is speaking candidly about why she has yet to take the Broadway stage.
The Glee alum, 40, shared her perspective on Threads after reacting to a post that claimed New York theater actors are run “ragged like they in the Marines." The Threads user added, “It can’t be sustainable nor healthy!”
Riley agreed — and expanded on the point.
“It’s not. That’s why when people hassle me about it, I say when the culture changes maybe I’ll do it,” she wrote. “But as of now, asking people to sing at the top of their range 8 shows a week without proper support or compensation, absolutely not.”
She continued, “You can have all the training in the world, which I do, and you can STILL injure. It’s not sustainable or healthy. Any ENT doctor will tell you that 🫠.”
Though Riley has not performed on Broadway, she is no stranger to the stage. The actress and singer starred in the London revival of Dreamgirls, earning an Olivier Award, the U.K.’s equivalent of a Tony.
Riley previously spoke about the rigorous training she experienced on Glee, where she portrayed Mercedes Jones. Speaking to PEOPLE at the Billboard Women in Music Awards in Inglewood, Calif., in March 2024, she described the series as preparation for the intensity of performance work.
“That good ol’ Glee sleep training, you better know how to function on four hours,” she said with a laugh, referencing the show’s demanding schedule that required cast members to sing, dance and act.
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“It literally was like bootcamp. It was theater bootcamp — it was just on television,” Riley added.
The experience, she said, instilled a lasting sense of discipline.
“I always try to apply that same focus and professionalism that we had to have,” she told PEOPLE at the time. “You had to be professional, you had to be on time, you had to hit your mark, you had to know your lines.”
Ibinabo Jack (left), Amber Riley (center) and Liisi LaFontaine (right) at the end of a performance of 'Dreamgirls' at the Savoy Theatre in London in December 2016Credit: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty
With a large ensemble cast and tight production timelines, collaboration was essential. “Everyone has to be a team player. So I think that that’s probably the biggest thing that I’ve taken into other jobs. It’s like, play your part so the day can go through smoothly,” she said.
Even as she continues to build her career beyond the series, Riley said she still looks back on Glee positively, despite it being “in the rearview mirror.”
While Riley won't be on the boards anytime soon, many of her Glee costars can currently be seen on stage in musicals currently playing in New York City, including Lea Michele (Chess), Matthew Morrison (Just in Time), Darren Criss (Maybe Happy Ending), Kevin McHale (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and starting April 9, Heather Morris (11 to Midnight).
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
