Grey Henson (born July 2, 1990) is an American actor, dancer, and singer. He originated the role as Damian Hubbard in the Broadway production of Mean Girls, for which he earned a nomination for a 2018 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical,[1][2] as well as Elder McKinley in the US national touring production of The Book of Mormon. He later reprised the role of Elder McKinley in the Broadway production of the show.
Grey Henson | |
|---|---|
 Henson in May 2018 | |
| Born | July 2, 1990 Macon, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education | Carnegie Mellon University (BFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, dancer, singer |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Website | greyhenson |
Early life and education
editHenson grew up in Macon, Georgia, and was a performer on the stages of Macon Little Theatre, Theatre Macon, and Madison’s School of Dance, which he credits for his love of performing.[3][4] He is a 2008 YoungArts alumnus.[5]
Henson received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting/Musical Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama in 2012.[6] At Carnegie Mellon University, he performed in Assassins as Samuel Byck and Sweeney Todd as Beadle Bamford.[6]
Acting career
editAs a junior at Carnegie Mellon, Henson auditioned for the national touring company of The Book of Mormon and ultimately joined the cast in the role of Elder McKinley.[7] The tour began in August 2012.[8] Henson then took over the role on Broadway from August 26, 2014, until August 21, 2016.[9]
Henson joined the original cast of the musical Mean Girls as Damian Hubbard in 2017. The musical, based on the film of the same name, premiered as an out-of-town tryout at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., on October 31, 2017, and ended December 3, 2017. The musical began previews on Broadway on March 12, 2018, and officially opened April 8, 2018. Co-star Barrett Wilbert Weed and Henson worked together to receive their roles in the production.[10] His final performance in the role was March 8, 2020. Henson called the role "a dream".[11]
In 2022, Henson appeared in the Peacock series Girls5eva as Tate.
Acting credits
editTheatre
editCredits in bold indicate Broadway production(s):
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Director(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-2014 | The Book of Mormon | Elder McKinley | First U.S. National Tour |
Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker | |
| 2014-2016 | Elder McKinley (replacement) | Eugene O'Neill Theatre | |||
| 2017 | Mean Girls | Damian Hubbard | National Theatre (out-of-town tryout) | Casey Nicholaw | |
| 2018-2020 | August Wilson Theatre | ||||
| 2023-2024 | Shucked | Storyteller 2 | Nederlander Theatre | Jack O'Brien | |
| 2024 | tick, tick...BOOM! | Michael | Kennedy Center | Neil Patrick Harris | |
| 2024-2025 | Elf | Buddy the Elf | Marquis Theatre | Philip Wm. McKinley |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Suburgatory | Alec | Episode: "Blowtox and Burlap" | |
| 2018 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (uncredited) | Episode: "Tina Fey" | |
| 2022 | Girls5eva | Tate | 5 episodes |
Accolades
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Helen Hayes Awards | Outstanding Supporting Performer - Visiting Production | The Book of Mormon | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Tony Awards | Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Mean Girls | Nominated | |
| Broadway.com Audience Awards | Favorite Featured Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Won | |||
| Favorite Onstage Pair (with Barrett Wilbert Weed) | Won | ||||
| Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Nominated | |||
| Helen Hayes Awards | Outstanding Performer - Visiting Production | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ Daw, Stephen (15 May 2018). "'Mean Girls' Broadway Star Grey Henson Talks His Tony Award Nomination & Representing Queer Youth on Stage". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
- ^ Lambe, Stacy (24 May 2018). "Tony Awards 2018: How Grey Henson Made Damian More Than a GBF in 'Mean Girls' (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
- ^ Hammond, Sarah (17 February 2020). "'There are so many directions we are going': Theatre Macon's Youth Artists' Company celebrates 30 years". WMAZ. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
- ^ Harwell-Dye, Jonathan (18 July 2012). "Grey Henson honed his craft in Macon before landing role in 'Book of Mormon' tour". Knight Foundation. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
- ^ "Our History | 40 years for artists". YoungArts. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ a b "Resume - Grey Henson". greyhenson.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- ^ Eberson, Sharon (24 March 2013). "Grey Henson, a 'veteran' of 'Mormon' touring company, credits CMU for his big break". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
- ^ "THE BOOK OF MORMON National Tour Cast Unveiled - Creel, Gertner, Ware, Henson, Mambo & More!". BroadwayWorld. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
- ^ "Grey Henson". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
- ^ Stagnitta, Ali (2018-04-16). "'Mean Girls' Barrett Wilbert Weed Talks On & Off-Stage Friendship With Her Damian, Grey Henson". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
- ^ "BWW Exclusive: Four Original MEAN GIRLS Cast Members Say Goodbye to North Shore High". BroadwayWorld. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (July 27, 2017). "Mean Girls Musical Finds Its Plastics in Taylor Louderman and Ashley Park; Additional Casting Announced". Playbill.
- ^ Vine, Hannah (February 2, 2018). "See Who's Bringing Mean Girls to Broadway". Playbill.
- ^ Shucked Will End Its Broadway Run
- ^ Brandon Uranowitz, Denée Benton, Grey Henson to Star in Kennedy Center Tick, Tick...BOOM!
- ^ https://www.theatermania.com/news/elf-the-musical-returning-to-broadway-starring-grey-henson_1749504/
- ^ "" Suburgatory" Blowtox and Burlap (TV Episode 2013)". IMDb.
- ^ "Mean Girls - SNL". YouTube. May 19, 2018.
- ^ "Tony Awards 2018: See the Full List of Nominees Here". Vogue. June 7, 2018.
- ^ "Mean Girls Leads Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Winners; Ethan Slater, Hailey Kilgore Also Take Top Prizes". Broadway.com. 2018-05-16.
- ^ "SpongeBob SquarePants Leads 2018 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. June 3, 2018.
- ^ "2018 Helen Hayes Awards". theatrewashington.org. 2018.