A.J. Shively

Shively was born on May 15, 1986, in Dublin, Ohio. He made his professional stage debut at age thirteen in the 1999 National Tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music.^[6]

He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance in 2008. During undergrad, he spent a year training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.^[7][8]

Shively made his Broadway debut as Jean-Michel in the 2010 revival of Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's La Cage aux Folles at the Longacre Theatre. The production won the 2010 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. That same year he appeared in a benefit concert production of Lerner and Loewe's Brigadoon at the Shubert Theatre. In 2016, Shively originated the role of Billy Cane in Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's Bright Star at the Cort Theatre. His performance earned a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. In 2022, Shively originated the role of Owen Duignan in Paradise Square at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. His performance earned nominations for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, and the Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show.^[9]

Off-Broadway, Shively has appeared in Gabriel Kahane and Seth Bockley's February House at The Public Theater (2012), Carner and Gregor's Unlock'd at Prospect Theatre Company (2013), and Teresa Deevy's The Suitcase Under the Bed at Mint Theater Company. The latter production was named a "Critic's Pick" by The New York Times.^[10] In 2022, Shively appeared as Robbie Fay in the Classic Stage Company revival of A Man of No Importance by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, based on the Albert Finney film of the same name. For his performance, Shively won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical, and received an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination. In 2024, Shively starred as Gar O'Donnell in Brian Friel's Philadelphia, Here I Come! at the Irish Repertory Theatre. His performance earned him the Theatre World Award's Dorothy Loudon Award, as well as nominations for the Lucille Lortel Award and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play.^[11]

In film, Shively has appeared in Syrup (2013), From Nowhere (2016), and Other People's Bodies (2025).^[12] On television, he's had guest and recurring roles on Homeland (2017), The Blacklist (2017-2019), Madam Secretary (2018), Hunters (2020), Bull (2021), Julia (2022), and Chicago Med (2025).^[13]