Joshua Henry

2006–2010: Early career and Broadway debut

Henry made his acting debut when he co-starred as Judas/John the Baptist in the Paper Mill Playhouse (Milburn, New Jersey) production of Godspell in 2006. He was set to star in a 2008 Broadway transfer opposite Gavin Creel as Jesus and Diana DeGarmo, but the project was cancelled.^[12][13]

In 2007, Henry appeared in the ensemble of the Off-Broadway musical In the Heights, re-joining the cast for the show's Broadway production.^[14] For In the Heights, the entire cast won a Drama Desk Award, and Henry and the ensemble won an ACCA Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus from Actors' Equity Association.^[15]

Henry starred in Serenade, which played off-Broadway from December 9, 2007, to December 15, 2007.^[16] In June 2009, Henry contributed original music to the off-Broadway musical Shafrika, The White Girl at the Vineyard Theatre.^[17]

In 2009, he also starred in The Wiz as The Tin Man at New York City Center as a part of their Encores! series.

From March 24, 2010 to July 20, 2010 he played "Favorite Son" in the original Broadway cast of the Green Day musical American Idiot.^[18][19] From March 15, 2011 until the show's closing on April 24, 2011 he returned to the role of "Favorite Son" in American Idiot.^[20][21]

2010–2011: The Scottsboro Boys and first Tony nomination

Henry then joined the Broadway cast of The Scottsboro Boys, directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman with a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb.^[22] He portrayed Haywood Patterson, for which he achieved critical praise.^[23] The Star Tribune wrote of his performance, "Joshua Henry ... ignites the role of Haywood Patterson as the lightning rod for our identification with the men."^[24] Charles Isherwood in The New York Times asserted that Henry "gives a performance of keen intensity as Haywood Patterson, an illiterate young man who becomes the focus of our sympathy as he steadfastly refuses to sign his name to a lie in order to obtain parole. Mr. Henry performs Haywood's ballad of hopeless yearning, 'Go Back Home,' with a powerful simplicity that slashes through the evening's artifice."^[25] Despite these positive reviews, The Scottsboro Boys closed within a month.^[26] For his performance, Henry was nominated for the 2011 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, but lost to Norbert Leo Butz in Catch Me If You Can.^[27][28]

On January 22, he was among the performers in the Broadway Memories concert performance in New York, in which he performed selections from The Scottsboro Boys.^[29] On March 2, 2011, he performed with The Scottsboro Boys' original Broadway cast in Stro!, a gala celebration honoring Susan Stroman.^[30]

Henry attended and performed at a MCC Miscast Gala in New York, held on March 15, 2011. The performance showcases "Broadway's hottest stars performing songs from roles in which they would never be cast."^[31] On April 10, 2011, he returned to the University of Miami to perform in their Broadway Unplugged concert.^[32] In addition, Henry and the cast of The Scottsboro Boys performed in the May 16, 2011, performance of Broadway Sensation in New York City.^[33]

2011–2016: Violet, concerts, and further success

Henry performed the role of Jake in the American Repertory Theater's production of Porgy and Bess, which began previews August 17, 2011, at the Loeb Drama Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It officially opened on August 31 and ran through September 30, 2011. It transferred to the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway where it played from January 12 until September 23, 2012.^[34]

In May and June 2013, he reprised his Tony nominated role in The Scottsboro Boys at the Ahmanson Theatre.^[35]

Henry performed the role of Flick opposite Sutton Foster in the Roundabout Theatre production of Violet which began in April 2014. On April 29, 2014, he was nominated for a Tony in the category of Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical.

Henry performed in a one-night concert performance of Parade at the Lincoln Center. He starred as Jim Conley opposite Jeremy Jordan as Leo Frank, Ramin Karimloo as Tom Watson, and Laura Benanti as Lucille Frank.^[36]

He appeared in the role of Noble Sissle in the 2016 production of Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway.

Henry starred as Jamie alongside Cynthia Erivo in a one-night benefit concert performance of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years on September 12, 2016. Proceeds from the performance went to the Brady Center, a national gun violence organization.^[37]

2016–present: Carousel, Ragtime, and more leading roles on Broadway

Henry originated the roles of Hercules Mulligan, James Madison, and King George III in the 2013 Vassar College workshop of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton.^[38] In 2016 and 2017, Henry starred in the lead role of Aaron Burr in the Chicago production of Hamilton at the CIBC Theatre. He reprised the role in the first United States national tour in San Francisco and Los Angeles.^[4] On November 18, 2020, it was announced Henry would reprise his role of Burr in a special performance with the cast of Hamilton for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.^[39]

Henry gained widespread acclaim as Billy Bigelow in the 2018 Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel, earning him another Tony Award nomination. Starring alongside Jessie Mueller, Carousel previews began February 28, officially opened April 12,^[40] and closed September 16 after 181 performances.

In 2021, Henry became the first African-American actor to play Dr. Pomatter in Waitress.^[41] He joined the Broadway cast on November 29 and stayed until it closed due to COVID-19 cases in the cast on December 20. He starred alongside Ciara Renèe as Jenna in the restaged production. He received a Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for his portrayal.^[42]

In May 2022, it was announced Henry would star as Rapunzel's Prince in the second Broadway revival of Into the Woods that would open in June of that year.^[43] He left the production on October 9 for the filming of Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration and was replaced by Andy Karl.^[44] Henry returned to the production after Karl's extended run^[45] ended December 2. Henry would stay with the production until its final performance on January 8, 2023. During the run he would star opposite Gavin Creel, Cheyenne Jackson, Karl, Sara Bareilles, Brian d'Arcy James, Patina Miller, Stephanie J. Block, Montego Glover, Joaquina Kalukango, Sebastian Arcelus, Phillipa Soo, and Krysta Rodriguez.^[46]

In 2023, Henry co-wrote and co-starred in The Conversation opposite Julia Harriman at Power Station at BerkleeNYC. The production was directed by Lear DeBessonet and music directed by Alex Lacamoire.^[47] The piece is set to premiere Off-Broadway at the Astor Place Theatre beginning in November 2026 directed by Kenny Leon.^[48]

Henry starred as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in a 2024 production of Ragtime at New York City Center, opposite Caissie Levy and Brandon Uranowitz. The production opened October 30 for a two-week engagement,^[49] and Henry received rave reviews for his performance.^[50] The critical success of that production prompted a 2025 Broadway revival at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, with Henry reprising his role and receiving many accolades most notably his first Tony Award and Drama League Award. The production is set to run from September 2025 through August 2026 after several extensions.^[51][52]