Former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Reece Weaver has made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the long-running musical Chicago, winning praise from audience members after facing criticism over the production’s decision to cast a celebrity performer.

Weaver became known through the Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, in which her departure from the squad was a major storyline in the third season. She officially began playing Roxie this week at New York’s Ambassador Theatre.

Audience member Sealy Sikes, who attended the opening night with her mother, said Weaver commanded the stage despite some early uncertainty.

“She did a great job, she’s a very big, charismatic actor,” Sikes said. “It was a little bit shaky at the beginning, but if I wasn’t hyper aware that it was her first time, I wouldn’t have even thought anything about it.”

Clips shared on social media showed the audience applauding as Weaver took her first bow.

Debate over celebrity casting

Weaver’s casting prompted debate over “stunt casting”, a term used for productions that bring in high-profile celebrities to attract audiences. Some critics questioned whether her public profile, rather than her theatrical experience, had secured the role.

Theatre critic and content creator Mickey-Jo Boucher said celebrity casting can help attract ticket buyers, particularly for shows that may be slowing at the box office. He also warned that it should not come at the expense of established theatre performers or the quality of a production.

“If a show starts to struggle a little bit more, they tend to use celebrity casting,” Boucher said. “By being there, they’re actually keeping a lot of other people employed at the same time.”

Sikes said the casting could help bring new audiences to Chicago, which is Broadway’s longest-running show. Weaver’s fans have already attended performances, with some waiting at the theatre’s stage door to meet her.

“She earned her spot there, she has been dancing and performing her whole life,” fan Samantha Milo said.

Weaver previously described appearing on Broadway as one of her “biggest dreams as a performer”. A TikTok post in which she discussed the casting has since been viewed more than six million times.

The production is scheduled to run for six weeks, until 18 October.