Josh Young

Biography

Prior to his Tony-nominated Broadway debut as Judas Iscariot in Jesus
Christ Superstar, Josh had the distinction of playing the role of
Marius in Cameron Macintosh’s Les Miserables and in more subsequent
productions than any other actor. Josh also won the Theatre World
Award for Best Debut Performance for his turn in Superstar. He went on
to originate the role of John Newton on Broadway in the world premiere
of Amazing Grace. Josh was awarded the Broadway World Award for Best
Actor in a Musical for his turn as Che in the North American Tour of
the Olivier Award-winning revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita,
directed by Michael Grandage. This was a reprisal of the role for
Josh, having been awarded the same distinction by Broadway World
Toronto for Gary Griffin’s production of Evita at The Stratford
Shakespeare Festival. Josh was a company member of The Stratford
Festival for two seasons, the rare American to be given the
opportunity at this world-renowned institution. It was Stratford’s
production of the Des McAnuff re-imagined Jesus Christ Superstar that
brought Josh back to the states. Josh toured Europe and Asia as Tony
for the 50th Anniversary of Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story. Also
abroad, and most recently, he played Jerusalem as famed Rabbi Shlomo
Carlebach in the biographical rock musical Soul Doctor. Regionally,
Josh’s performance as Tateh in Ragtime earned him the prestigious IRNE
Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He’s performed in North America's
finest regional theaters including La Jolla Playhouse, Seattle’s 5th
Avenue Theatre, Walnut Street Theater, St. Louis MUNY, Baltimore
Center Stage, Ogunquit Playhouse, San Diego Repertory Theatre,
Huston’s Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS), DC’s Shakespeare Theatre
Company and North Carolina Theatre. He's been involved in new works
with NYC's Roundabout Theatre Company, The Transport Group, and The
New York Musical Theater Festival. As a concert artist, Josh has had
the privilege of performing with major symphonies across the globe. He
most recently headlined for The Toronto Symphony Orchestra and The
Detroit Symphony Orchestra under the musical direction of The New York
Pops’ principal conductor, Steven Reineke. Equally at home in more
intimate venues, Josh has written no less than 5 one-man cabarets
which have sold out venues from New York City to Ho Chi Minh City.
Josh is a frequent headliner on Crystal Cruises’ specialty voyage,
“Crystal on Broadway,'' where his self-written solo shows are
highlighted. Josh can be heard on numerous albums, including the
original cast recording of Amazing Grace and on his two solo albums:
Still Dreaming of Paradise and his self-titled debut album, Josh Young
- several songs of which have been used by championship figure
skaters, Megan Duhamel and Eric Radford. Both albums are available on
iTunes and Amazon Music. Josh is the co-founder of Cutting-Edge
Composers, a concert and weekly web series on broadwayworld.com,
created to give exposure to musical theatre's next generation of
songwriters. Josh is the Coordinator of Musical Theatre at Missouri
State University having just left Oakland University where he led the
musical theater program for the past four years and was the 2022
recipient of Oakland University’s Faculty Recognition Award for
Excellence in Teaching.

Details

Education

• B.F.A., Musical Theatre, Syracuse University
• M.Ed., Higher Education Leadership, Oakland University

Professional experience

BROADWAY AMAZING GRACE John Newton The Nederlander Theatre 2015-2016

BROADWAY JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Judas Iscariot The Neil Simon Theatre 2011-2012

2012 Tony Award Nomination – Best Featured Actor in a Musical
2012 Theatre World Award Winner – Outstanding Broadway Debut

NATIONAL TOUR SOUL DOCTOR Shlomo Israel Tour 2018
NATIONAL TOUR EVITA Che 1st National Tour 2013-2014

2013 BroadwayWorld Award - Best Lead Actor in a Musical

NATIONAL TOUR WEST SIDE STORY Tony 50th Anniv. Tour 2005-2007
NATIONAL TOUR LES MISERABLES Marius 3rd National Tour 2003-2004

REGIONAL THEATRE SUNDAY IN THE PARK W/ GEORGE George Shea’s Buffalo Theatre 2022
REGIONAL THEATRE SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD Man 2 Flint Rep 2021
REGIONAL THEATRE SOUL DOCTOR Shlomo San Diego Rep. 2018
REGIONAL THEATRE GREY GARDENS Joe/Jerry Ahmanson Theatre 2017
REGIONAL THEATRE RAGTIME Tateh Ogunquit Playhouse. 2017

2017 IRNE Award Winner - Best Actor in a Musical
2017 BroadwayWorld Award Nomination - Best Lead Actor in a Musical

REGIONAL THEATRE THE SECRET GARDEN Neville Craven Theatre Under the Stars 2017
REGIONAL THEATRE THE SECRET GARDEN Neville Craven Shakespeare Theatre Co. 2016
REGIONAL THEATRE THE SECRET GARDEN Albert Lennox Lincoln Center 2015
REGIONAL THEATRE AMAZING GRACE John Newton Oriental Theater Chicago 2014

2014 BroadwayWorld Award Winner – Best Lead Actor in a Musical

REGIONAL THEATRE SOUTH PACIFIC Lt. Cable St. Louis MUNY 2014
REGIONAL THEATRE JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Judas La Jolla Playhouse 2011

2011 BroadwayWorld Award Winner - Best Featured Actor in a Musical

REGIONAL THEATRE LES MISERABLES Marius Fulton Opera House 2009
REGIONAL THEATRE A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC Henrik Baltimore Center Stage 2009
REGIONAL THEATRE WEST SIDE STORY Tony North Carolina Theatre 2008
REGIONAL THEATRE HAIRSPRAY Link Larkin Walnut St. Theatre 2008
REGIONAL THEATRE LES MISERABLES Marius Walnut St. Theatre 2007
REGIONAL THEATRE LES MISERABLES Marius Ogunquit Playhouse 2008

2009 BroadwayWorld Award Nominee - Best Featured Actor in a Musical

STRATFORD FESTIVAL JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Judas Avon Theatre 2010

2011 BroadwayWorld Award Winner – Best Lead Actor in a Musical

STRATFORD FESTIVAL THE GRAPES OF WRATH Connie Avon Theatre 2010

2011 BroadwayWorld Award Winner – Best Supporting Actor in a Play

STRATFORD FESTIVAL EVITA Che Avon Theatre 2009

2010 BroadwayWorld Award Winner – Best Lead Actor in a Musical

STRATFORD FESTIVAL KISS ME KATE Paul Festival Theatre 2009

Awards and honors