# Rodney Hicks

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American actor

Rodney Hicks Born (1974-03-28) March 28, 1974 (age 52) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

**Rodney Hicks** (born March 28, 1974)[1] is an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. He is perhaps best known for originating the role of Bob in the Broadway musical *[Come from Away](/source/Come_from_Away)* (2017) as well as playing various roles in the original and closing Broadway cast of the musical *[Rent](/source/Rent_(musical))*.[2]

## Career

Hicks made his [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) debut in 1996 as part of the original cast of the musical *[Rent](/source/Rent_(musical)),* where he originated the role of Paul and was the understudy for the role of Benjamin Coffin III.[2] He returned to the cast of *Rent* in 2007 as the main performer of Benjamin Coffin III, originated by [Taye Diggs](/source/Taye_Diggs), where he became the final actor to play the role before the production closed that year.[3] The final performance, including Hicks, was recorded in *[Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway](/source/Rent%3A_Filmed_Live_on_Broadway)*.[4] In 2000, Hicks starred as Peter in revival of *[Jesus Christ Superstar](/source/Jesus_Christ_Superstar),* which ran for six months in the [Lyric Theatre](/source/Lyric_Theatre_(New_York_City%2C_1998)) on Broadway.[5] Hicks later also starred as Joe Bonaparte in the 2000 revival of [Charles Strouse](/source/Charles_Strouse)'s *[Golden Boy](/source/Golden_Boy_(musical))*.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Off-Broadway, he co-starred alongside [Robert Cuccioli](/source/Robert_Cuccioli) in the 2006 revival of *[Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris](/source/Jacques_Brel_is_Alive_and_Well_and_Living_in_Paris),* and can be heard on the new cast recording.

In 2010, he played the role of Clarence Norris in the musical *[The Scottsboro Boys](/source/The_Scottsboro_Boys_(musical))*, which was directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner [Susan Stroman](/source/Susan_Stroman) at Off-Broadway's [Vineyard Theatre](/source/Vineyard_Theatre). The show opened on March 10 and ran until April 18, 2010.[6] 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](/source/Haywood_Patterson) in the 2012 [Philadelphia Theatre Company](/source/Philadelphia_Theatre_Company) production of *The Scottsboro Boys*, where he was awarded the 2012 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Leading Male in a Musical. At the Village Theatre in Seattle, 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 2011, Hicks played the role of Curly in the first all African-American cast of *[Oklahoma!](/source/Oklahoma!)* at Portland Center Stage in Portland, Oregon. The production was directed by Chris Coleman, whom Hicks would later marry.

In 2014, Hicks took part in a lab production of *[Come from Away](/source/Come_from_Away),* which would later open on Broadway on March 12, 2017. Rodney departed from the cast of *[Come from Away](/source/Come_from_Away)* on June 14, 2017, after being diagnosed with [spasmodic dysphonia](/source/Spasmodic_dysphonia), a neurological condition that causes a person's voice to spasm.[7] Hicks was subsequently unable to appear in the [live stage recording](/source/Come_from_Away_(film)) of the musical, released in 2021 on [Apple TV+](/source/Apple_TV%2B). After treatment, Hicks regained his ability to speak and sing clearly. He has appeared in regional theatres across the country varying in plays from *[King Lear](/source/King_Lear)*, *[Lobby Hero](/source/Lobby_Hero)* through to *[Ain't Misbehavin'](/source/Ain't_Misbehavin'_(musical))* and *[Two Gentlemen of Verona](/source/Two_Gentlemen_of_Verona)*. In 2023, he played Walter in [*Chess*](/source/Chess_(musical)) at [The Muny](/source/The_Muny).[8]

Hicks is currently working on a writing project called, '1 9 6 8'.[9] Hicks's published work as a playwright includes *Ms. Pearl's Cabaret* (2019 Eugene O'Neill Playwriting Conference Semi-Finalist), *FLAME BROILED. or the ugly play* (Premiered at Local Theatre Company, Boulder CO, Fall 2019), and *Just Press Save* (2018 Eugene O'Neill Playwriting Conference Semi-Finalist), the last of which was featured at the 2020 Pride Plays Festival.[10] The virtual reading and workshop was directed by [Michael Greif](/source/Michael_Greif), who previously directed Hicks in *Rent.*[11]

Off-stage, Hicks has appeared on several television shows, such as portraying Delray Williams in *[NYPD Blue](/source/NYPD_Blue)*, the guest lead Jerome Davis in an episode of *[Law & Order: Criminal Intent](/source/Law_%26_Order%3A_Criminal_Intent)* playing opposite [Faith Ford](/source/Faith_Ford) and [Johnny Galecki](/source/Johnny_Galecki), and as Perry on the last season of ABC's *[Hope and Faith](/source/Hope_and_Faith)*. While living in the Pacific Northwest Hicks guest-starred on NBC's *[Grimm](/source/Grimm_(TV_series))* and TNT's [*Leverage*](/source/Leverage_(American_TV_series)).

## Personal life

Hicks was born and raised in [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia). He graduated from [Roxborough High School](/source/Roxborough_High_School) in 1992. That same year, he enrolled in [Mansfield University](/source/Mansfield_University_of_Pennsylvania), but dropped out in 1994 to pursue acting as a full-time career. He earned early success performing alongside [Lauryn Hill](/source/Lauryn_Hill) from the hip/hop group [The Fugees](/source/The_Fugees) in the musical *Bring in the Morning - A Wake up Call,* followed by a role in the [John Adams](/source/John_Coolidge_Adams) and [June Jordan](/source/June_Jordan) pop opera *[I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky](/source/I_Was_Looking_at_the_Ceiling_and_Then_I_Saw_the_Sky),* which was directed by [Peter Sellars](/source/Peter_Sellars).

Hicks is married to Chris Coleman, the artistic director at the Denver Theatre Center for Performing Arts, whom he met while auditioning for *Oklahoma!.*[12] After getting diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, Hicks returned to his home in the Pacific Northwest with Coleman to recover. Since his move to Denver in 2018, Hicks has had a world premiere of his play 'FLAME BROILED. or the ugly play' and continues to write and act. Hicks is a meditator.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Rodney Hicks [@rodneyhickshere]; (March 28, 2020). ["In my 46 years I have come to believe this with my whole heart and Being. Especially Now. Today is my birthday and that's my wish"](https://www.instagram.com/rodneyhickshere/p/B-R0zLvjLWp/). Denver, Colorado. Retrieved January 20, 2024 – via [Instagram](/source/Instagram).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_2-1) ["Rodney Hicks (Performer)"](https://www.playbill.com/person/rodney-hicks-vault-0000108880). *[Playbill](/source/Playbill)*. Retrieved March 10, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Thomas, Sophie (January 25, 2021). ["Stars taking part in the New York Theatre Workshop 'Rent' 25th anniversary gala"](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/stars-taking-part-in-new-york-theatre-workshop-rent-25th-anniversary-gala). *New York Theatre Guide*. Retrieved January 20, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Harms, Talaura (December 30, 2023). ["31 Days of Holiday Cheer: The Final Broadway Cast of Rent Plan a 'Happy New Year'"](https://playbill.com/article/31-days-of-holiday-cheer-the-final-broadway-cast-of-rent-plan-a-happy-new-year). *[Playbill](/source/Playbill)*. Retrieved January 21, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Jesus Christ Superstar"](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/jesus-christ-superstar-12491). *[Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database)*. Retrieved March 10, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Hernandez, Ernio (February 12, 2010). ["Stroman Brings New Musical 'The Scottsboro Boys' to Off-Broadway"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110604192203/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/136824-Stroman-Brings-New-Musical-The-Scottsboro-Boys-to-Off-Broadway). *[Playbill](/source/Playbill)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.playbill.com/news/article/136824-Stroman-Brings-New-Musical-The-Scottsboro-Boys-to-Off-Broadway) on June 4, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Hetrick, Adam (1 August 2017). ["Actor Rodney Hicks Opens Up About Come From Away Departure | Playbill"](http://www.playbill.com/article/actor-rodney-hicks-opens-up-about-come-from-away-departure). *[Playbill](/source/Playbill)*. Retrieved November 26, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Culwell-Block, Logan (May 11, 2023). ["Taylor Louderman, Rodney Hicks, John Riddle, More to Lead Muny's Chess"](https://playbill.com/article/taylor-louderman-rodney-hicks-john-riddle-more-to-lead-munys-chess). *[Playbill](/source/Playbill)*. Retrieved January 14, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Hicks, Rodney. ["1 9 6 8"](https://www.rodneyhicks.net/1968). Retrieved March 12, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["PRIDE PLAYS"](https://www.rattlestick.org/20192020-season/2020/6/25/pride-plays). *Rattlestick Playwrights Theater*. June 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Teeman, Tim (June 25, 2020). ["Rodney Hicks and Azure D. Osborne-Lee on 'Pride Plays' and Fighting for Black Queer Change in Theater"](https://www.thedailybeast.com/rodney-hicks-and-azure-d-osborne-lee-on-pride-plays-and-fighting-for-black-queer-change-in-theater). *[The Daily Beast](/source/The_Daily_Beast)*. Retrieved March 12, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_12-0)** Stabler, David (January 10, 2019). ["'Mountaintop' actor reveals what it takes to play Martin Luther King, Jr"](https://www.oregonlive.com/performance/2013/10/rodney_hicks.html). *Oregon Live*. Retrieved March 10, 2022.

## External links

- [Rodney Hicks](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0382953/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Rodney Hicks](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/75033) at the [Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database)

Authority control databases International VIAF WorldCat National United States Artists MusicBrainz Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rodney Hicks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_Hicks) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_Hicks?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.