Larry Saperstein

Last updated
Larry Saperstein
Born
Laurence Benjamin Saperstein

(1998-04-12) April 12, 1998 (age 25)
Islip, Long Island, New York
Alma mater Pace University
Occupation(s)Actor, dancer
Years active2007–present
Website www.larrysaperstein.com

Laurence Benjamin Saperstein (born April 12, 1998[ citation needed ]) is an American actor and dancer. He stars as Big Red in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series .

Contents

Life and career

Saperstein is from Islip on the southern shore of Long Island, New York. He is Jewish. [1] He began dancing at age 6 and was a member of the Tap City Youth Ensemble. He spent several summers at the Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts. He attended Islip High School and was selected as a 2016 Long Island Scholar Artist. [2] [3] He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Production and Design for Stage and Screen from Pace University in New York City in 2020. [4]

Saperstein has been acting since he was 3 years old at a community theater with his parents. [5] Larry landed his first role at the age of 6 as Winthrop Paroo in Star Playhouse's production of The Music Man . [6] He has had several theatre roles in Long Island and touring on the West Coast.

Saperstein played Lucius in the 2015 ABC Television film Fan Girl starring Kiernan Shipka. [7]

In February 2019, it was announced Saperstein would star in his breakout onscreen role in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series as Big Red, Ricky Bowen (Joshua Bassett)'s best friend who fills in as the school production's stage manager. [8] [9] The series premiered that November. Saperstein was the final main to be cast.

In June 2021, Saperstein came out as bisexual via social media. [10]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011FindingBoyShort film
BlindfoldJeremy
We Are the Hartmans
2015 Fan Girl LuciusTelevision film
2019 Porno Todd
First Wives Club TimmyEpisode: "Plan B"
2019–2023 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Big RedMain role (Season 1–2)
Recurring role (Season 4)
Guest star (Season 3)
TBAGap YearSecond Unit Director

Stage

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007 The Music Man Winthrop ParooStar Playhouse, Commack
2008 Evita Children's ChoirStar Playhouse, Commack
2010 Oliver! Charley BatesJohn W. Engeman Theater, Northport
2009–2010 Miracle on 34th Street Tommy Mara Jr.West Coast tour
2010 Fiddler on the Roof EnsembleJohn W. Engeman Theater, Northport
2014 Cats SkimbleshanksIslip Town Hall West, Islip
2016 Clybourne Park Lighting designer; Islip Town Hall West, Islip
2018 Peter and the Starcatcher Lighting DesignerPace University

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Hudgens</span> American actress and singer (born 1988)

Vanessa Anne Hudgens is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in Thirteen (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical film series (2006–2008), which brought her significant mainstream media success. The success of the first film led Hudgens to acquire a recording contract with Hollywood Records, with whom she released two studio albums, V (2006) and Identified (2008).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corbin Bleu</span> American actor (born 1989)

Corbin Bleu Reivers is an American actor and singer. He made his acting debut in the 2004 adventure comedy film Catch That Kid. He has since appeared in the Discovery Kids drama series Flight 29 Down (2005–2007). He began acting professionally in the early 2000s and rose to prominence in the late 2000s for his leading role as Chad Danforth in the High School Musical trilogy (2006–2008). Songs from the films also charted worldwide, with the song "I Don't Dance" peaking inside the Top 70 of the Billboard Hot 100. During this time, he also starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Jump In! (2007) and the film To Write Love on Her Arms (2015). He competed in the 17th season of Dancing with the Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Groff</span> American actor (born 1985)

Jonathan Drew Groff is an American actor and singer. He began his career on Broadway, rising to prominence for his portrayal of Melchior Gabor in the original production of Spring Awakening (2006–08), for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. He returned to Broadway to portray King George III in the original production of Hamilton (2015), for which he earned a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He currently stars opposite Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez in the first Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Morgan</span> Canadian actress (born 1992)

Vanessa Morgan Mziray is a Canadian actress. She is known for her roles as Beatrix "Bird" Castro in the MTV teen drama series Finding Carter, as Amanda Pierce in the Family teen comedy series The Latest Buzz, and as Sarah in the Disney Channel / Teletoon film My Babysitter's a Vampire and the television series of the same name. However, she is best known for portraying Toni Topaz in The CW teen drama series Riverdale from 2017 to 2023.

<i>High School Musical</i> (franchise) Disney franchise

High School Musical is an American media franchise centered on a series of musical romantic comedy-drama films created by Peter Barsocchini. The franchise also includes stage musicals, books, comics, live shows, video games, and a television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dove Cameron</span> American actress and singer (born 1996)

Dove Olivia Cameron is an American singer and actress. She gained recognition for her dual role of the eponymous characters in the Disney Channel comedy series Liv and Maddie (2013–17), for which she won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming. She also starred in the Disney Channel Descendants franchise (2015–2021).

Ryan Jerome McCartan is an American actor and singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auliʻi Cravalho</span> American actress (born 2000)

Chloe Auliʻi Cravalho is an American actress. She made her acting debut as the voice of the title character in the Disney animated musical film Moana (2016). She went on to star in the NBC drama series Rise (2018), the Netflix drama film All Together Now (2020), the supernatural comedy Darby and the Dead (2022), the Amazon Prime Video sci-fi series The Power (2023), and the 2024 film adaptation of the Mean Girls musical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kit Connor</span> English actor (born 2004)

Kit Sebastian Connor is an English actor. He gained recognition for starring as secondary school student Nick Nelson in the Netflix teen series Heartstopper (2022–present). He won the inaugural Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Performance for the role. He appeared in the films Get Santa (2014), Rocketman (2019), and Little Joe (2019). He had a recurring role in the series Rocket's Island (2014–2015), and a voice role in the series His Dark Materials (2019–2022).

Ainsley Melham is an Australian actor, best known as a former member of Australian children's musical group Hi-5 from 2013 to 2016 and for playing the title role in Disney's Aladdin in Australia and later on Broadway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sofia Wylie</span> American actress, dancer, and Singer

Sofia Christine Wylie is an American actress. She began her career in dance before gaining prominence through her role as Buffy Driscoll on the Disney Channel comedy-drama series Andi Mack (2017–2019).

<i>High School Musical: The Musical: The Series</i> 2019 American mockumentary television series

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is an American mockumentary musical drama television series created for Disney+ by Tim Federle, inspired by the High School Musical film series. The series is produced by Chorus Boy and Salty Pictures in association with Disney Channel. Oliver Goldstick served as showrunner for the first four episodes; he was succeeded by Federle for the remainder of the first season and thereafter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joshua Bassett</span> American actor and singer (born 2000)

Joshua Taylor Bassett is an American actor and singer. He is known for his starring role as high school student Ricky Bowen in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019–2023), and for its accompanying soundtracks, for which he won a Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song for a Children's or Young Teen Program. In music, Bassett was signed to Warner Records in 2020 and has released four extended plays to date.

Joseph Ronald Serafini is an American actor. He plays Seb Matthew-Smith in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

<i>Big Shot</i> (TV series) American sports comedy drama television series

Big Shot is an American sports comedy-drama television series created by David E. Kelley, Dean Lorey and Brad Garrett for Disney+ starring John Stamos, Jessalyn Gilsig, and Yvette Nicole Brown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julia Lester</span> American actress and singer

Julia Rose Lester is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Ashlyn Caswell in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and for her portrayal of the role of Little Red Ridinghood in the 2022 Broadway revival of Into the Woods, for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

<i>High School Musical: The Musical: The Series</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, an American mockumentary musical drama streaming television created by Tim Federle, premiered on Disney Channel, ABC, and Freeform as a preview simulcast on November 8, 2019, ahead of its premiere on Disney+ on November 12. The season consisted of 10 episodes, which released weekly until January 10, 2020. The series itself is inspired by the High School Musical film series.

<i>High School Musical: The Musical: The Series</i> (season 2) Season of television series

The second season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, an American mockumentary musical drama streaming television series created by Tim Federle, premiered on Disney+ on May 14, 2021; the season consisted of 12 episodes, which released weekly until July 30, 2021. The series itself is inspired by the High School Musical film series.

<i>High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special: The Soundtrack</i> 2020 soundtrack album

High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special: The Soundtrack is the soundtrack album for the streaming television special of the same name. Featuring the cast of the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, the special and its respective soundtrack were created following the shutdown of production of the second season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The soundtrack was released on November 20, 2020, three weeks before the special itself was released on Disney+ on December 11.

<i>High School Musical: The Musical: The Series</i> (season 3) Season of television series

The third season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, an American mockumentary musical drama streaming television series created by Tim Federle, premiered on Disney+ on July 27, 2022; the season consisted of 8 episodes that released weekly until September 14. The series itself is inspired by the High School Musical film series.

References

  1. Ben-Moche, Erin (December 11, 2020). "HSM Series' Julia Lester, Larry Saperstein Perform Classics for Disney+ Holiday Special". Jewish Journal. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  2. "Larry Saperstein, Long Island Scholar Artist". Islip Fine and Performing Arts. September 28, 2015. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  3. "Seniors Merit being Commended". Islip School District. 4 January 2016. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  4. "Meet Larry". Larry Saperstein. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  5. Whitehouse, Beth (December 7, 2010). "A star search for LI's most talented kids". Newsday. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  6. Kramer, Bryna (November 22, 2019). "Exclusive Interview with Larry Saperstein from 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series'". Talk Nerdy with Us. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  7. Sullivan, Corinne (September 4, 2019). "It's the Start of Something New! Here's the Cast For the High School Musical TV Show". PopSugar Australia. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  8. Petski, Denise (February 15, 2019). "'High School Musical': Disney+ Sets Cast, Starts Production On Streaming Series Reboot". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  9. Ayers, Mary (November 8, 2019). "Larry Saperstein's Big High School Musical Debut". Teenplicity. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  10. "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Actor Larry Saperstein Comes Out as Bisexual". E! Online. 2021-06-02. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2021-06-02.