Rosie O'Donnell and Kristin Chenoweth Star in 'Dance Moms' Parody Musical Reading
The two actresses took on lead roles in a New York City reading of 'The Pyramid: An Unauthorized 'Dance Moms' Musical,' a parody based on the Lifetime reality series.
Rosie O'Donnell and Kristin Chenoweth led the cast in a reading of "The Pyramid: An Unauthorized 'Dance Moms' Musical" in New York City on Monday.
O'Donnell, 64, portrayed the notoriously demanding owner and choreographer Abby Lee Miller, a central figure in the reality TV show "Dance Moms." The series, which aired on Lifetime for eight seasons from 2011 to 2019, documented the lives of young competitive dancers from a Pennsylvania dance studio and the intense pressure Miller placed on them and their mothers.
Chenoweth, 58, took on the role of dance instructor Cathy Nesbitt-Stein, a character who frequently clashed with Miller on the show. Nesbitt-Stein continued to operate her Ohio-based dance studio, Candy Apples Dance Center, after the series concluded.
Prior to the reading, O'Donnell teased the project in a TikTok video without revealing specific details. She later confirmed her involvement, expressing enthusiasm for the reading and her love of performing on Broadway. O'Donnell recently concluded a two-week engagement as the narrator in "The Rocky Horror Show" on Broadway.
Fans reacted positively to the news of O'Donnell and Chenoweth's participation, with many expressing excitement on social media platforms like Reddit and Instagram. Comments ranged from calling the casting a "necessary choice" to deeming the musical a "fever dream."
While O'Donnell and Chenoweth participated in the reading, there are plans to develop "The Pyramid: An Unauthorized 'Dance Moms' Musical" into a full Broadway production. The project, originally conceived as a social media concept, launched a Kickstarter campaign in August 2026 to fund its development. Producer Logan Clark and creative producer Tye Blue are leading the production team.
In other recent news, O'Donnell shared her experience filming an intimate scene with Cynthia Nixon for "And Just Like That...", calling the process "horrifying" and admitting to feeling nervous about portraying the characters' post-coital moments.