Rodney Hicks
| Rodney Hicks | |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 28, 1974 Montgomery Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Rodney Hicks (born March 28, 1974) is an Award Winning American stage and television actor.
Rodney is also the playwright of a new play, NC-17. Raised in Philadelphia, he graduated from Roxborough High School in 1992 and left college in 1994 to pursue acting as a full-time career. Shortly, he made his Broadway debut as part of the original cast of the hit landmark musical Rent. Before that, he earned early success performing alongside Lauryn Hill from the hip/hop group The Fugees in the musical Bring in the Morning - A Wake up Call followed by the John Adams and June Jordan pop opera I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky which was directed by acclaimed director Peter Sellars. He made his second appearance on Broadway in the 2000 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar playing the role of Peter and also starred in the revival of Charles Strouse's Golden Boy in the Sammy Davis Jr. role of Joe Bonaparte. Off-Broadway, he starred alongside Robert Cuccioli, Natascia Diaz and Gay Marshall in the 2006 revival of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris directed by Gordon Greenberg. He can be heard on the new cast recording.
In 2015, Rodney originated the role of Bob in the World Premiere Production of, Come from Away, at the La Jolla Playhouse. It had a subsequent run at Seattle Repertory Theatre. The show is written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. It is directed by Christopher Ashley and choreographed by Kelly Devine. The show is slated to open on Broadway in the Spring of 2017 before making stops in DC and Toronto.
Most recently he originated the role of H. Ford in the new production of Paint Your Wagon which premiered at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater in 2016.
He has appeared in top regional theatres across the country varying in plays from King Lear, Lobby Hero through to Ain't Misbehavin' and Two Gentlemen of Verona.
His memorable TV turns has been as Delray Williams in NYPD Blue opposite Rick Schroder, the guest lead Jerome Davis in an episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent playing opposite Faith Ford and Johnny Galecki as Perry on the last season of ABC's Hope and Faith. While living in the Pacific Northwest Rodney goes starred on NBC's GRIMM and TNT's Leverage.
He returned to the Broadway cast of Rent in 2007 as Benjamin Coffin III. He was the final actor to play the role in the original Broadway production which closed that year. His performance was recorded in RENT: Filmed Live on Broadway.
In 2010 he played the role of Clarence Norris in Kander & Ebb's New Musical 'The Scottsboro Boys' which was directed and choreographed by Tony Award Winner Susan Stroman at Off-Broadway's Vineyard Theatre. The show ran from Feb - April 18. It will be playing a follow up production at The Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota July 31 - September 25. The show has received 9 Drama Desk Nominations including Best New Musical, 6 Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best New Musical and is the winner of two Lucille Lortel Awards including Outstanding New Musical and Outstanding Choreography. The show opened on Broadway October 31, 2010 after beginning previews on the 6th of that month. It closed December 12, 2010. He played the lead role of Haywood Patterson in the 2012 Philadelphia Theatre Company production of The Scottsboro Boys where he won the 2012 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Leading Male in a Musical. At The Village Theatre in Seattle, WA Rodney Hicks played the role of Jim where he was recognized with a Seattle Times Footlight Award for his performance and a Broadway World Seattle's Critics Choice Award (Jay's Picks) for Outstanding Leading Actor.
In September 2011 Hicks played the role of "Curly" in the first all African American cast of "Oklahoma!" at Portland Center Stage in Portland, OR. The production was directed by Chris Coleman and music directed by Rick Lewis.
He is married to Portland Center Stage artistic director Chris Coleman.