Brooks Ashmanskas

Off-Broadway and Broadway

Ashmanskas was in the original productions of Dream (1997),^[6] Songs for a New World (Off-Broadway, 1995) and the Broadway revival of Gypsy: A Musical Fable (2003).^[7][8] He was a replacement "Carmen Ghia", starting in 2004, in The Producers,^[9] occasionally acting opposite original Carmen Ghia actor Roger Bart as Leo Bloom.

In 2006, he played several characters in the Broadway production of Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me,^[10] for which he received a Tony Award nomination, Best Performance By a Featured Actor in a Musical.^[11]

He appeared in the Broadway revival of The Ritz as Chris in 2007.^[12] He played the character of Mr. Dobitch in the 2010 Broadway revival of Promises, Promises.^[13] Also in 2010 he appeared in the Broadway revival of Present Laughter.^[8] He starred as the title character Off-Broadway in the New Group production of Clive at the Acorn Theatre in January 2013 through March 2013.^[14]

Ashmanskas appeared in the stage musical adaption of Bullets Over Broadway, which opened on Broadway in April 2014. In March 2015 he appeared in Something Rotten! on Broadway.^[15][16] In 2016, he appeared in Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed.^[17]

He starred as Barry Glickman in the original Broadway production of The Prom, which opened in October 2018 at the Longacre Theatre, for which he was nominated for a 2019 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.^[18]

In 2025, Ashmankas originated the role of Nigel in the Broadway production of Smash. He received a Tony nomination for his portrayal of Nigel, the director of the show.^[19]

Regional theatre

He appeared in the Arena Stage production of Animal Crackers in 1999.^[20]

He has performed at the Huntington Theatre Company, Boston, in Present Laughter in 2007^[21] and in She Loves Me in May and June 2008 (which transferred to the Williamstown Theatre Festival in June and July).^[22] He appeared in God of Carnage in 2012 as Alan.^[23] His appearances at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, Massachusetts, include She Loves Me in 2008,^[24]Knickerbocker in 2009^[25] and in July and August 2013 in a new musical, Johnny Baseball.^[26]

In 2008, he participated in a staged concert presentation of "Broadway: Three Generations" at the Kennedy Center, appearing in Girl Crazy and Bye Bye Birdie.^[27] He performed in Burn This as "Larry" at the Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, in 2011.^[28]

He appeared in the musical 1776 as John Adams at the Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C., in 2012.^[29]

Theatre

Film

Television