Jeff Kready

Last updated

Jeff Kready
J. Kready 1.jpg
Kready in 2021
Born
Parsons, Kansas
Education Washburn University (B.A.)
OccupationActor
Years active2006-present
Spouse Nikki Renée Daniels
Children2
Website jeffkready.com

Jeff Kready (born in Parsons, Kansas, United States) is an American stage performer and has been featured in Broadway musicals.

Contents

Early life

Raised in Topeka, Kansas, Kready is a 2000 graduate of Washburn Rural High School. In 2004, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Voice Performance and Vocal Music Education from Washburn University. [1]

Career

Kready made his Broadway debut in the 2006 revival of Les Misérables in the role of Babet/Fauchelevent and an understudy Jean Valjean. [2] He had the distinction of being the youngest actor to portray the role of Valjean on Broadway until 2015, when Kyle Jean-Baptiste performed the role at 21. [3] The show opened 9 November 2006 at the Broadhurst Theatre and closed on 6 January 2008. His next appearance on Broadway was in the Roundabout Theater Company 2008 Broadway Revival of Sunday in the Park with George as an understudy. [4]

Kready was in the original Broadway company of Billy Elliot The Musical as a member of the ensemble. The production opened at the Imperial Theatre on November 13, 2008. While Will Chase was on hiatus from May to August 2010, Kready took over the role of Tony. [5] Kready then left the show to originate the role of Tony on the second National Tour beginning November 2010. [6]

In 2014, Kready took over the lead role of Monty Navarro from Bryce Pinkham in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder . [7] He had been a member of the original Broadway company since November 2013 as a member of the ensemble and understudied several roles. [8]

Kready was the standby for the leading role of Michael Dorsey in the 2019 Broadway musical comedy Tootsie, [9] which opened at the Marquis Theatre on April 23, 2019. [10]

Kready was featured as Bert Healey in Annie Live! , a musical television special that aired on NBC on December 2, 2021. [11]

Off-Broadway, Kready starred in the World Premiere of Tokio Confidential for the Atlantic Theater Company in the role of Ernest alongside of Jill Paice (Isabella). [12] Other notable performances include the World Premiere of In This House (Two River Theater Company) in Red Bank, New Jersey. [13] [14]

Kready starred in the 2012 production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Carousel in the role of Enoch Snow opposite Jenn Gambatese (Carrie), for which he received a Connecticut Critics Circle Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical. [15] He also led David Sedaris' one-man-show The Santaland Diaries at Hartford's Theaterworks, [16] and Thoroughly Modern Millie in the role of Jimmy, co-produced by the Maltz Jupiter Theater in Jupiter, Florida and Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. [17] Jeff also starred in Paper Mill Playhouse production of Holiday Inn in the role of Ted Hanover, [18] and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera's production of Brigadoon in the role of Tommy Albright. [19]

Kready was in the ensemble of the third Broadway revival of Company . He filled in for Christopher Fitzgerald in the role of David for an extended run. [20] He also was in the ensemble of the New York City Center 2023 revival of Oliver!. [21] Later that year, he starred as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls at the Benedum Center. He played opposite renowned Broadway actress Nikki Renée Daniels, who played Sarah Brown. The couple are married in real life. [22]

In May 2024, he joined the cast of The Great Gatsby on Broadway and understudied Jeremy Jordan in the title role. [23] In November 2024, he was featured as Henry Ford in the acclaimed City Center revival of Ragtime. [24] [25] In 2025, he was cast in the Off-Broadway immersive revival of The Phantom of the Opera at 218 West 57th Street as The Phantom, a role he played until early 2026. [26] [27] [28]

In addition to Kready's stage credits, he guest starred in season 3, episode 6 of the Emmy-nominated HBO series Boardwalk Empire . [29] Other television credits include a recurring co-star role in the CBS crime drama Elementary , The Good Fight CBS web television series, and in the CBS drama The Code .

Kready performed voiceover work in the UMPQUA Bank television commercial campaign. [30] He also sang on Nikki Renée Daniels' debut album, Home. [31] Kready is a vocalist in the South Park 25th Season orchestra trailers. [32] [33] [34]

Theatre credits

Ref: [35]

YearProductionRoleCategory
2006-2008 Les Misérables Fauchelevent / Babet / Ensemble

u/s Jean Valjean

Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway
2008 Sunday in the Park with George u/s Soldier / Alex
u/s Louis / Billy Webster
u/s Franz / Lee Randolph		 Studio 54, Broadway
2008-2010 Billy Elliot: The Musical Ensemble
u/s Tony		 Imperial Theatre, Broadway
2010Tony
2010-2011US National Tour
2012Tokio ConfidentialErnest Atlantic Theater Company, Off-Broadway
Carousel Enoch Snow Goodspeed Musicals
2013 Thoroughly Modern Millie Jimmy Smith Maltz Jupiter Theatre / Paper Mill Playhouse
2013-2015 A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Farmer / Guard
u/s Montague D'Ysquith Navarro		 Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway
2015Montague D'Ysquith Navarro
2017 Attack of the Elvis Impersonators Reverend Jeremiah Stonewall Theatre Row Building, Off-Broadway
2018 Brigadoon Tommy Albright Benedum Center
Tootsie Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels (standby) Cadillac Palace Theatre
Holiday Inn Ted Hanover Paper Mill Playhouse
2019-2020 Tootsie Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels (standby) Marquis Theatre, Broadway
2022 Company u/s Jamie, u/s Paul, u/s David, u/s Andy, u/s Harry, u/s Peter, u/s Theo Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway
David
2023 Oliver! Ensemble New York City Center, Off-Broadway
Guys and Dolls Sky Masterson Benedum Center
2024 The Great Gatsby Ensemble

u/s Jay Gatsby
u/s Tom Buchanan

 Broadway Theatre, Broadway
Ragtime Henry Ford / Ensemble New York City Center, Off-Broadway
2025-2026 The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom 218 West 57th Street, Off-Broadway

References

  1. ↑ "Student Accomplishments and Teaching Appointments". Washburn.edu. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Broadway Les Misérables revival cast". Broadwaylesmis.com. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  3. ↑ Blankenship, Bill (July 21, 2012). "Singers' season includes Broadway stars | Cjonline.com Mobile". M.cjonline.com. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  4. ↑ Brantley, Ben (February 22, 2008). "Down by the Blue Purple Yellow Red Water". The New York Times . Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Billy Elliot: The Musical". IBDB. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  6. ↑ Kane, Dan (November 24, 2010). "Review - 'Billy Elliot' is a crowd-pleaser - News - The Repository - Canton, OH". Cantonrep.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  7. ↑ McPhee, Ryan (December 17, 2014). "Jeff Kready Is A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder's Newest Monty as Bryce Pinkham Steps Into The Heidi Chronicles". Broadway.com. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  8. ↑ "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder". IBDB. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Jeff Kready". Playbill.
  10. ↑ Franklin, Marc J. (April 24, 2019). "Go Inside Opening Night of Tootsie on Broadway". Playbill.
  11. ↑ "'Annie Live!' Musical Event Coming to NBC This Holiday Season". MSN . Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Tokio Confidential". Tokio Confidential. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  13. ↑ La Gorce, Tammy (March 2, 2012). "A Grammy Winner Tests Himself : 'In This House,' Composed by Mike Reid, Is at Two River Theater Company". The New York Times . Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Goodspeed Musicals". Goodspeed.org. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  15. ↑ Rizzo, Frank (May 26, 2013). "Connecticut Critics Circle Nominate Best Of Theater Season - Page 4 - tribunedigital-thecourant". Articles.courant.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  16. ↑ Rizzo, Frank (November 5, 2012). "Jeff Kready Is Crumpet in Hartford's TheaterWorks". Articles.courant.com. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  17. ↑ BWW News Desk (February 6, 2013). "Brenda Braxton to Star in Maltz Jupiter and Paper Mill's THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE; Full Cast Announced!". Nj.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Casting Announced For Holiday Inn". Paper Mill Playhouse. October 25, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Stage review: Pittsburgh CLO's 'Brigadoon' dazzles with magical performances". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  20. ↑ "Jeff Kready Steps in as Temporary Replacement in Broadway's Company Alongside Wife Nikki Renée Daniels". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 27, 2026. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Oliver! at City Center Encores! Finds Its Artful Dodger". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 27, 2026. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  22. ↑ "GUYS & DOLLS". Pittsburgh CLO. August 8, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  23. ↑ "The Great Gatsby – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Ragtime (Off-Broadway, New York City Center, 2024)". Playbill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  25. ↑ Russo, Gillian (May 6, 2025). "'Ragtime' to open on Broadway this fall". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Hugh Panaro, Nik Walker, Telly Leung, Kaley Ann Voorhees, More Cast in Phantom Revival, Masquerade". Playbill. Archived from the original on October 12, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  27. ↑ Hall, Margaret (August 4, 2025). "Meet Your 6 Phantoms in Immersive Revival Masquerade Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  28. ↑ Kready, Jeff [@jk_ready]; (January 20, 2026). "Masquerade has been a singular experience in my 20 years as an actor. I am immensely grateful to have gotten to don the legendary mask and sing this score alongside a company of magic makers. Being close enough to the audience to see and feel the impact of our work was the most rewarding storytelling I've ever done. Paired with some incredible scene partners and five actors I now consider my brothers, I have truly been living the dream. @masqueradenyc #phantomoftheopera #nyc #bts #offbroadway #theatre #musicaltheater #dianepaulus #andrewlloydwebber #masquerade #actor #actorlife #finalperformance #ilovemyjob #allgoodthings" – via Instagram.
  29. ↑ "Jeff Kready Biography". Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  30. ↑ "UMPQUA History". YouTube. September 20, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Nikki Renée Daniels | Home | CD Baby Music Store". Cdbaby.com. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  32. ↑ "A 30-piece orchestra performs a rendition of "Jackin' It in San Diego"". South Park United States. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  33. ↑ Neale, Matthew (January 26, 2022). "'South Park' enlist full orchestra for new version of 'Kyle's Mom'". NME. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  34. ↑ Wild, Stephi. "VIDEO: Elizabeth Stanley, Nikki Renee Daniels, Jeff Kready, and Tamar Greene Sing Orchestral SOUTH PARK Theme Song". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  35. ↑ Jeff Kready AboutTheArtists Theatre Credits
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