‘Glee’ Star Amber Riley Says She Won't Do Broadway Until The Culture Changes – Says 8 Shows a Week Is “Not Sustainable”

Amber Riley is making it clear that Broadway won’t be getting her back anytime soon.

via: Broadway World

Amber Riley is opening up about her decision not to do theater in New York City, pointing out industry standards that are "not sustainable." In a new post on Threads, the Glee alum shares that she will not do Broadway until the "culture changes."

Responding to a post that NYC theatre standards "can’t be sustainable nor healthy," Riley offered her opinion on the matter. She elaborated that no matter how much training you have, eight shows a week "without proper support or compensation" is not sustainable for performers.

"It’s not. That’s why when people hassle me about it, I say when the culture changes maybe I’ll do it. 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. 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."

Her comments immediately sparked conversation among theater fans and performers, especially given her acclaimed stage history and powerhouse run as Effie White in Dreamgirls on the West End. In 2017, she took home the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance.

While she did not indicate what exact changes she wants to see, the phrase “not sustainable” points to ongoing conversations around burnout, performer wellness, rehearsal demands, and the physical and emotional toll of live theater schedules.

Given Riley’s star power and respected theater résumé, her comments are likely to resonate far beyond Broadway circles and may reignite wider discussions about what performers are expected to endure in live theater spaces.