Josh Young


Department

Theatre and Dance

Role: Faculty
Campus: Springfield

Postal mail

Missouri State University
Theatre and Dance
901 S. National Ave.
Springfield, MO 65897

Biography

Prior to his Tony-nominated Broadway debut as Judas Iscariot in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Josh Young had the distinction of playing the role of Marius in Cameron Macintosh’s “Les Miserables” and in more subsequent productions than any other actor. Young 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.” Young won 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 Young, having been awarded the same distinction by Broadway World Toronto for Gary Griffin’s production of “Evita” at The Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Young was a company member of The Stratford Festival for two seasons, the rare American given the opportunity at this world-renowned institution. It was Stratford’s production of the Des McAnuff re-imagined “Jesus Christ Superstar” that brought Young back to the states. Young 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, Young’s performance as Tateh in “Ragtime” earned him the prestigious IRNE Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He has 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, Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS), DC’s Shakespeare Theatre Company and North Carolina Theatre. Young has 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, Young 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, Young has written no less than five one-man cabarets which sold out venues from New York City to Ho Chi Minh City. Young is a frequent headliner on Crystal Cruises’ specialty voyage “Crystal on Broadway,'' where his self-written solo shows are highlighted. Young 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.

Young 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. He is the Coordinator of Musical Theatre at Missouri State University having 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

Faculty Recognition Award for Excellence in Teaching, Oakland University, 2022

Cliff and Gail Smart Professorship in Musical Theatre