Thayne Jasperson

Thayne Jasperson
Jasperson in 2015.
Born (1980-07-27) July 27, 1980 (age 44)[1]
Provo, Utah, U.S.
Alma materUtah Valley State College
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active2001–present

Thayne Jasperson (born Thayne Riley Jasperson, July 27, 1980) is an American actor and singer, best known for his role in the Broadway musical Hamilton.[2]

Early life

Jasperson was born to Nancy Jasperson[3] in Provo, Utah before moving to Green River, Wyoming, where he grew up for the first several years of his life. [4] By the age of nine, he had taken up piano, musicals, and clog dancing. His friends mocked him for this, telling him "it was for girls,"[5] which led him to temporarily quit his theater career. Although he wanted to be in an art school when he was younger, he refrained from doing so since he was "fearful of not being cool."[6] He moved to Evanston for a while before moving back to Utah during high school.[4]

Jasperson graduated from Springville High School, later going to Utah Valley State College[7] before going back into theater full-time around his 21st birthday.[5]

Career

Jasperson appeared in the 2006 movie High School Musical as a dancer before competing in the 2008 season of the show So You Think You Can Dance.[8] Jasperson made his Broadway debut in 2012 with the role of Darcy and ensemble in the original cast of Newsies. In 2013, he was cast as an ensemble member in the musical version of Matilda. In 2014, he played the dog Porthos in Finding Neverland.[9][10]

As an original Broadway cast member of Hamilton in 2015, Jasperson originated the role of Samuel Seabury and performed in the ensemble. Along with being cast as Seabury, he is the understudy for John Laurens / Philip Hamilton and for King George III. Jasperson is the only original cast member still performing the show onstage at Richard Rogers Theatre.[11]

Upcoming projects

As of August 2020, Jasperson was writing a show that he planned to choreograph and appear in.[12]

Educator / movement director

Jasperson teaches Hamilton choreography in New York City, where participants can learn a dance combination from the musical. He has also offered online classes for the same purposes, as well as teaching students in the middle school of the town where he grew up.[4]

Awards and recognitions

In 2016, Jasperson was nominated for an Astaire Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show for Hamilton.[13]

Other awards:

  • 2012 nominee for Fred Astaire Awards for Outstanding Ensemble in Newsies
  • 2016 nominee Fred Astaire Awards for Outstanding Ensemble in Hamilton
  • 2016 Winner Tony Awards for Best Musical for Hamilton

Personal life

Jasperson currently lives in Utah. He is a Mormon, and he goes to the LDS Church. He has confirmed he is bisexual, being attracted to both men and women.[14][2] Although he faces some adversity for his sexuality, Jasperson stays confident and proud of who he is.[2]

Jasperson is not much of a sports fan, but since he grew up in Wyoming, he roots for the Wyoming Cowboys, as he loves the state where he grew up.[15]

He has a close relationship with his family, describing it as "beautiful" when he got to spend time with them during the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]

Performance credits

Theatrical performances

Broadway

Title Role Details Notes
Newsies Darcy and Ensemble (2012) Nederlander Theatre Actor
Matilda Ensemble (2013–2014) Tim Minchin, Shubert Theatre Actor
Hamilton Samuel Seabury and Ensemble; John Laurens / Philip Hamilton (u/s); King George III (u/s) Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler Actor, Choreographer

Off-Broadway

Title Role Details Notes
Only Gold Ensemble Actor
Hamilton Samuel Seabury / Ensemble New York City Center, John Rando Public Theatre/Thomas Kail Actor

Regional

Title Role Details Notes
Finding Neverland Porthos A.R.T Actor
West Side Story Ensemble Actor
OZ Scarecrow Actor

Film

Title Role Details Notes
Hamilton Samuel Seabury / Ensemble Directed by Thomas Kail Actor
High School Musical Brainiac Dancer Directed by Kenny Ortega Actor
High School Musical 2 East High Dancer Directed by Kenny Ortega Actor

Television

Title Role Details Notes
The American Mall Principal Dancer Shawn Ku Actor, Choreographer
So You Think You Can Dance Self Matthew Diamond, Bruce Gowers, Nigel Lythgoe Contestant
Smash Dancer Michael Mayer Dancer

References

  1. ^ "Thayne Jasperson". My Heritage. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Kalita, S. Mitra (July 9, 2020). "What one of the few White Hamilton cast members learned about race". CNN. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  3. ^ "Do you need to listen to 'Hamilton' nonstop before seeing it in Salt Lake City? Utah superfans have some advice". The Salt Lake Tribune. April 9, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Live unafraid: Green River native and Broadway star teaches theater class for local students". Wyoming News. March 13, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Curtains up". Deseret. December 1, 2021.
  6. ^ "Hamilton performer Thayne Jasperson tells students: Take your shot". News-Press. September 26, 2016.
  7. ^ "Schools of the Stars: Where Hamilton Cast and Creators Went to College". Playbill. August 6, 2015.
  8. ^ "Thayne Jasperson". Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "Thayne Jasperson". A Class Act NY. 2021.
  10. ^ "From Growls To Canine Gait, A.R.T. Actor Embraces His Animal Role". WBUR. August 22, 2014.
  11. ^ "Thayne Jasperson". Broadway World.
  12. ^ "Checking In With… Hamilton's Thayne Jasperson". August 27, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "Pas De Trois: Hamilton, Shuffle Along & On Your Feet! Share Astaire Awards Win". May 16, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  14. ^ "Q&A: 'Hamilton' actor, Mormon and Utahn Thayne Jasperson on faith and doubt". Deseret. October 16, 2017.
  15. ^ "The Broadway Cast: Dancers Unite with Thayne Jasperson, Mattie Love & Nico deJesus". Broadway World. October 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "'Hamilton' star presents master class in Sarasota on his way back to Broadway". Herald-Tribune. July 9, 2021.