Broadway star Courtney Reed to be inducted into Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame March 27

Elgin native Courtney Reed fell in love with theater at 6 years old when she appeared as a mouse in a Children’s Theatre of Elgin production of “Cinderella.”

That beginning led to Reed’s career on Broadway, and a starring role as the original “Princess Jasmine” in the Disney musical “Aladdin” in 2014.

“Honestly, I could talk for hours about how CTE has enhanced my life, and contributed to where I am today,” Reed said. Today she is an acclaimed musical theater performer and will be one of the youngest inductees into the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame on Friday, March 27, at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva. For more information, visit FVAHF.org.

Reed continued to pursue theater in high school at Elgin’s Larkin High School Visual and Performing Arts Academy with a focus on drama. She graduated in 2002 and went on to earn a degree in musical theater at the Chicago College of Performing Arts.

Reed received a Grammy nomination as the original “Princess Jasmine” in Disney’s smash Broadway hit “Aladdin.” She later went on to reprise the role in the North American Tour and once again in London’s West End production as part of its closing cast. Reed returned to the Broadway production for a limited engagement and took her final bow as Princess Jasmine on Oct. 27, 2019.

“She’s the best Disney princess of all time,” Reed said. “She’s extra special, because for me, someone of mixed ethnicity, you grow up and (Disney princesses) all have blond hair and blue eyes, and you wished you looked like them, but you don’t.”

Reed is an original co-founder and co-producer of the globally touring Disney Princess the Concert. She just completed a Japanese tour of the production in January 2026 and will be part of a U.S. tour in April with other Broadway performers.

Reed also starred for over two years as “Satine” in the Broadway and First National Tour productions of “Moulin Rouge!” She also starred in Lauren Yee’s award-winning play Cambodian Rock Band, and gave her first solo concert, “Confessions of a Broadway Princess,” at Feinstein’s/54 Below in New York City. Reed was also a starring cast member in the musical Reunions, presented at New York City Center Stage II in the Fall of 2025.

Reed appeared in Drake Doremus’ feature film “Endings, Beginnings” starring Shailene Woodley in 2019. Over the past several years, she has appeared on such television shows as: Liza on Demand, “Search Party,” “The Affair,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “White Collar,” “NYC 22,” and “CSI: NY.”

Reed is also the founder of her all-female-run company “Gagged Chokers,” which has received praise in such magazines as People, People’s Style Watch, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Allure, Refinery 29, More, and Yahoo. Learn more about Courtney Reed on her Instagram page, @rhodesreed.

The Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame recognizes artists associated with the Fox Valley by birth, education, residence or service, who have achieved international or national acclaim. Candidates should have completed 20 years in their professional field and received recognition for excellence. The honor is for living artists or can be awarded posthumously.

The Class of 2026 also includes Kelly Barr, classical music; Denise Crosby, journalism; Leslie Hunt, popular and progressive music; Stanley Konopka, classical music; Mary Beth McCarthy, choral music; and Juel Ulven, folk music. Susan S. Starrett will receive the premiere Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.

The induction banquet for the Class of 2026 will be Friday, March 27, at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva.

Tickets are $75 and a portion of the proceeds will be used to promote the arts in the Fox Valley with a free event for children and the community. For more information, email info@fvahf.org, visit the Facebook, and Instagram pages, or our website at FVAHF.org.