His first professional stage role was William Miller in the musical
Almost Famous at the
Old Globe Theatre in
San Diego, California. The production ran from September to October 2019. When it transferred to
Broadway at the
Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre from November 2022 to January 2023, Likes again played William Miller, garnering a 2023
Theatre World Award. He appears on the cast recording. Between his two runs in
Almost Famous, Likes appeared in season 2 of
Crypt TV's web series
The Birch as Brian Moses (2021). In 2021, he wrote, directed and acted in a short film titled
Thespians, also starring
Sydney Lucas,
Andrew Barth Feldman,
Rob McClure, and
Antonio Cipriano. Likes starred as Richie Shepherd in the
MGM horror film
Dark Harvest (2023). He also played
Gene Simmons, the bassist and co-lead singer of
Kiss, in the
Neil Bogart biopic
Spinning Gold (2023). Likes starred as Marty McFly in
Back to the Future: The Musical at the
Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway from June 2023 until it closed on January 5, 2025. For this performance he was nominated for an
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical. In 2024, he appeared on
Eisa Davis and
Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical concept album
Warriors. He sang the role of Jesse. He directed and starred as Melchior Gabor in a production of
Spring Awakening at Greasepaint Youtheatre in
Scottsdale, Arizona, from April 4 to 13, 2025. Likes starred as J. D. in the
off-Broadway revival of
Heathers at
New World Stages from June 2025 to April 2026. == Filmography ==