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 more leading roles on Broadway 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 Broadway revivals, Hamilton, Waitress 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: An American Musical at the
CIBC Theatre. He reprised the role in the first
United States national tour in San Francisco and Los Angeles. In 2018, Henry starred and gained wide-spread acclaim as Billy Bigelow alongside
Jessie Mueller in the third Broadway revival of
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel, for which he received a Tony Award nomination. Performances began on February 28 before officially opening on April 12. The show closed on 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. In May 2024, it was announced Henry would star as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in a production of
Ragtime at
New York City Center opposite
Caissie Levy and
Brandon Uranowitz. The production opened on October 30 of that same year for a two week engagement. Henry received rave reviews for his performance. A Broadway revival started performances in September 2025 at the
Vivian Beaumont Theatre, with Henry reprising his role and set to continue in it until August 2026.
Film and television for
Army Wives in 2013 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==