Joshua Henry

Joshua Anthony Charlton Henry (born September 2, 1984) is a Canadian-American, Grammy and Tony Award winning actor and singer of stage and screen, known for his performances in Broadway musicals.

He is best known for starring as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in the second Broadway revival of Ragtime, which earned him a Tony Award. He also received Tony Award nominations for his roles as Haywood Patterson in The Scottsboro Boys, Flick in Violet, and Billy Bigelow in the third Broadway revival of Carousel.

Henry starred in the lead role of Aaron Burr in the first United States national tour of Hamilton, previously playing the role in the Chicago production in 2016. His other notable performances include Dr. Jim Pomatter in the Broadway restaging of Waitress, Rapunzel's Prince in the second Broadway revival of Into the Woods which earned him a Grammy Award, and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration. He was also featured in the Broadway casts of In the Heights, American Idiot, Bring It On: The Musical, Porgy and Bess, and Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed.

Early life and education Henry was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to Zadoc Henry (a teacher at Calvary Christian Academy), and raised in Miami, Florida.

His father was a Math teacher and his mother was an accountant. He has an older brother who is a bass player and an older sister who is a public health doctor. His parents are from Jamaica.

He originally wanted to be an accountant, like his mother. However, he was cast as Harold Hill in his high school (Florida Bible Christian School) production of The Music Man and with the experience he changed his mind.

Henry studied theatre at the University of Miami, where he graduated in 2006.

Career Theatre

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.

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. 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.

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

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. From March 15, 2011 until the show's closing on April 24, 2011 he returned to the role of "Favorite Son" in American Idiot.

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. He portrayed Haywood Patterson, for which he achieved critical praise. 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." 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." Despite these positive reviews, The Scottsboro Boys closed within a month. 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.

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. On March 2, 2011, he performed with The Scottsboro Boys''' original Broadway cast in Stro!, a gala celebration honoring Susan Stroman.

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." On April 10, 2011, he returned to the University of Miami to perform in their Broadway Unplugged concert. In addition, Henry and the cast of The Scottsboro Boys performed in the May 16, 2011, performance of Broadway Sensation in New York City.

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 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.

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, and closed September 16 after 181 performances.

In 2021, Henry became the first African-American actor to play Dr. Pomatter in Waitress. 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.

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. He left the production on October 9 for the filming of Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration and was replaced by Andy Karl. Henry returned to the production after Karl's extended run 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.

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. The piece is set to premiere Off-Broadway at the Astor Place Theatre beginning in November 2026 directed by Kenny Leon. and Henry received rave reviews for his performance. 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.

Film and television

Henry appeared in the first Sex and the City film in 2008.

He appeared on the television series Kings and Nip/Tuck, as well as the 2010 short film Once Upon a Time in Australia. Henry also appeared in the role of Corporal Quincy Montclair on season 7 of the Lifetime series Army Wives.

In 2017, he starred in his biggest film role, Ben Moran in Renegades. From 2019 to 2021, he appeared in the television series See as Jerlamarel.

Henry also starred in the film adaptation of the musical tick, tick... BOOM! as Roger Bart. He starred alongside Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Vanessa Hudgens. It was released in November 2021. Henry received a Black Reel Award nomination for his performance.

In December 2022, Henry starred as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration. He starred alongside H.E.R., Josh Groban, Martin Short, David Alan Grier, Shania Twain, Rizwan Manji, and Rita Moreno.

Music On September 23, 2008, Henry performed in a concert performance titled Party Worth Crashing in New York City.

Henry, along with Corbin Bleu and Andréa Burns, was featured on "Dare to Go Beyond: The Album", by the nonprofit organization R.Evolución Latina. It was released on December 13, 2010, produced by Luis Salgado.

On January 16, 2011, Henry, Laura Osnes, and Natalie Weiss were featured performers in Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk's You Made This Tour concert at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Henry performed in the 92nd Street Y's Lyrics & Lyricists event, honoring Burton Lane, on February 14, 2011.

On February 12, 2021, Henry released his EP Guarantee.

On September 10, 2021, Henry released his debut album Grow.

On December 13, 2022 Henry released his single Can't Nobody Tell Us Nothin'''.

In October 2024, he appeared on Eisa Davis and Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical concept album Warriors. He sang the role of Wanya of The Bizzies.

Personal life In October 2012, he married his college sweetheart, Cathryn Stringer.

The couple announced the birth of their first child, Samson Peter Henry, in October 2018. They welcomed twin sons Max and Leo on March 21, 2021.

Acting credits Film

Television

Theater Year(s)ProductionRoleLocation Notes 2006 Godspell Judas / John the Baptist Paper Mill Playhouse Regional2007 In the Heights Ensembleu/s Benny 37 Arts TheatreOff-Broadway Serenade Thomas Teatro LATEA 2008In the Heights Ensembleu/s BennyRichard Rodgers TheatreBroadway2009 Swingu/s Benny The Wiz The Tin ManNew York City Center Off-BroadwayEncores!American IdiotEnsemble / Favorite Son Berkeley Repertory Theatre Regional2010 St. James Theatre Broadway The Scottsboro Boys Haywood Patterson Guthrie Theater Regional Lyceum TheatreBroadway2011 American Idiot Ensemble / Favorite Son St. James TheatrePorgy and BessJake American Repertory Theatre Regional 2011–2012 Richard Rodgers TheatreBroadway 2012 Bring It On: The Musical "Cross the Line" Soloist St. James Theatre2013 The Scottsboro Boys Haywood Patterson Ahmanson Theatre Regional Violet Flick New York City Center Off-BroadwayEncores! Hamilton Hercules Mulligan / James Madison / King George III Vassar College Workshop 2014 Violet Flick American Airlines Theatre Broadway 2015 Parade Jim Conley Lincoln Center Concert 2016 Shuffle Along Noble Sissle Music Box Theatre Broadway The Last Five Years Jamie Wellerstein The Town Hall Brady Center Concert 2016–2017 Hamilton Aaron Burr CIBC Theatre Chicago 2017 Orpheum Theatre US National Tour Pantages Theatre 2018 Carousel Billy Bigelow Imperial Theatre Broadway 2019 The Wrong Man Duran MCC Theater Off-Broadway 2021 Waitress Dr. Jim Pomatter Ethel Barrymore Theatre Broadway2022 The Tap Dance Kid William NYCC Encores! Off-Broadway Into the Woods Rapunzel's Prince St. James Theatre Broadway Beauty and the Beast Gaston Walt Disney Studios Television special of live production 2022–2023 Into the Woods Rapunzel's Prince St. James Theatre Broadway 2023 The Conversation He Power Station at BerkleeNYC Workshop; Also composer/lyricist 2024RagtimeCoalhouse Walker Jr. New York City Center Off-Broadway 2025–2026 Vivian Beaumont Theatre Broadway

Awards and nominations