Misty Copeland is Broadway-bound

Dancer Misty Copeland will soon add a Broadway show to her ever-growing list of accomplishments.

It was announced Monday that Copeland, who last week was named American Ballet Theater's first African-American female principal, will join the cast of the current revival of On The Town for 12 performances, from August 25 through Sept. 6.

In a statement, producer Howard Kagan noted that the musical "has a long history of progressive, diverse casting," dating back to the appointment of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato to the role of Ivy Smith -- which Copeland will play -- in the original 1944 production, and the inclusion of a "racially integrated ensemble" at that time.

Regarding Copleand, Kagan said it "seems fitting that this incredible talent, who has broken through barriers in the dance world, will make her Broadway debut in this show."

In the current production of On The Town, which was nominated for the Tony Award for best revival of a musical, the part of Ivy has been played by two principals at New York City Ballet: Megan Fairchild, who reintroduced the role for this staging and is currently playing it; and Fairchild's sister-in-law Tiler Peck, who filled in for a few performances in March.