Indivisa logo

Powered by

GOAL logo
Gotham FC Midge Purce BroadwayMidge Purce/Instagram
Celia BalfMay 7, 2025FEATURESNWSLM. PurceNJ/NY Gotham FC

Performing live is what she does: Midge Purce starts for Gotham FC by day, stars on Broadway by night

Purce stepped onto the Broadway stage to perform the opening monologue of 'Chicago'

When Midge Purce stepped onto the Broadway stage to perform the opening monologue for Chicago, it was as if she was walking onto the soccer pitch, moments before a big match. There were lights. There were fans. There were eyes on her. And of course, there was noise and the pressure to perform.

While this time Purce was swapping her cleats and Gotham FC uniform for a two-piece black set, the way she prepared for this moment was all too familiar.

In 2023, Purce led Gotham to its first NWSL Championship. She was named NWSL Championship MVP. For the next year, Purce was sidelined due to an ACL injury and was forced to watch her team from the sidelines - a year-plus of reflection and difficult choices. New York and New Jersey fans everywhere were thrilled when Purce announced that she was re-signing with Gotham ahead of the 2025 season, and since she's been back on the pitch her role has quickly shifted into a starting role.

Now, starring on Broadway? A little different. This opportunity wasn't in Purce's pipeline of dreams, however when the opportunity presented itself, she handled it as she would any major game or call up.

“It’s an incredible honor to step onto the Broadway stage in Chicago,” she said. “I’ve always poured my heart into everything I do, and this is no different. Performing in a show with such legacy and power is something I take seriously - and I couldn’t be more excited to embrace this challenge and celebrate the magic of live performance.”

  • Midge Purce/instagram

    Other professional athletes on Broadway

    Purce joins a short list of professional athletes on Broadway. Former NFL star and Heisman trophy winner Eddie George starred in Chicago in 2016 and boxing legend Mike Tyson performed in his one-man show Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, directed by Spike Lee, which ran on Broadway in 2012.

    Purce joins an even shorter list of women professional athletes that have been on Broadway. Dominique Dawes, a three-time Olympic medalist, transitioned from gymnastics to the stage, portraying cheerleader Patty Simcox in the Broadway production of Grease during the late 1990s. Katy Sullivan, a bilateral transfemoral amputee and Paralympic track and field athlete also performed on the great stage, as did professional dancer Emily Tyra.

    The list isn't long, and that's likely due to the demands of both professions. For Purce, although working entirely different muscles and skills, found a lot of commonalities around the preparation for a big night on Broadway.

    "Similarities, I think mostly in mindset and performance pieces. Everyone kept asking me in the lockerroom... 'Are you nervous?' It's the same thing, when people ask you before the game: 'Are you nervous?' Why are you putting that in my head? I'm preparing."

  • Getty Images

    Bigger than Broadway

    Is there anything bigger than Broadway? Depends who you ask. This moment, however, was a lot bigger than anyone could have imagined. The opportunity found Purce by way of a promotional marketing team, and casted the show with other powerful women; Ashley Graham, Sophie Carmen-Jones and Rema Webb.

    In an interview with The Athletic, Whitney Britt, the founder of the Two Dog Circus agency that works with Chicago said: “Women’s sports and folks who buy tickets for the theater are very similar. They are both live entertainment audiences that are willing to spend a decent amount on a ticket and want to come out and have a good time.”

    Purce had fans come out to see her perform. The crowd was packed with teammates, family and friends. She executed the opening monologue with grace and confidence - two adjectives that often describe her presence on the field.

    It was a moment that brought two worlds closer, and brought fans exactly what they paid for: quality entertainment.

    While Purce may not be permanently swapping the cleats for stilettos, she certainly showed that this crossover isn't only possible, but actually quite meaningful. The 29-year-old got a glimpse and a front row seat into a completely new industry than hers, and in doing what she knows best, preparing and managing nerves, she took over the room.