Thayne Jasperson

Last updated
Thayne Jasperson
Thayne Jasperson in Seabury Costume.jpg
Jasperson in Seabury costume in 2025.
Born (1980-07-27) July 27, 1980 (age 45)
Provo, Utah, U.S.
Alma mater Utah Valley State College
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active2001–present

Thayne Riley Jasperson (born July 27, 1980) [1] is an American actor, singer, and choreographer, best known for his role in the Broadway musical Hamilton . [2]

Contents

Early life and education

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. [5] When he was younger, he wrote in his journal, "I'm going to be an actor when I grow up." [6] However, his friends mocked him for this, telling him "it was for girls," which led him to temporarily quit his theatre career. [5] 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." [7] He moved to Evanston for a while before moving back to Utah during high school. [4]

Jasperson graduated from Springville High School. [8] When he was 19, Jasperson went on a two-year Mormon mission in Argentina. He later called his time on the mission to be "hard ... but worth it." [8] [9] During his mission, his passion for theatre reignited, and he got back into theatre full-time around July 2001, his 21st birthday. [5] [6] He graduated from Utah Valley University. [10]

Career

Film and television

Jasperson appeared in the 2006 movie High School Musical as a brainiac dancer. [11] He returned as ensemble for the 2007 sequel, High School Musical 2 . [12] In 2008, Jasperson competed in season 4 of the show So You Think You Can Dance , being a top 12 finalist. [12] [13] The same year, he performed in MTV's The American Mall. Jasperson was a dancer in the 2012 Pilot of Smash. [14] He was briefly in the Season 2 finale of Submissions Only as a dancer. [15]

Theatre

2004-2012: Local and touring shows

In 2004, Jasperson performed in 1776 in Hale Center Theatre, playing the role of George Washington's courier. [16] Two years later, in 2006, he performed as Mungojerrie in the Tuacahn Amphitheatre's production of Cats. [17] [18] He returned to Tuacahn as a Swing in Annie . [19] The same year, he played the lead role of Ren in Footloose in 2009. [18] [20] The next year, in 2010, he was in the amphitheater's production of Tarzan as an understudy for both the titular role of Tarzan and for the role of Terk. [21] He was in the First US National Tour of West Side Story from 2010 to 2012. In the tour, Jasperson was a Swing for the ensemble, as well as an understudy for the roles of A-Rab, Baby John, and Big Deal. [22]

2012–2014: Broadway and regional

Jasperson made his Broadway debut in 2012 with the roles of Darcy, JoJo, and ensemble in the original cast of Newsies . [23] He performed alongside the rest of the company of Newsies in the 66th Annual Tony Awards. [24] In 2013, he was cast as an ensemble member in the original cast of Matilda on Broadway. [25] Along with his main role as ensemble, Jasperson understudied the roles of the Doctor, Michael Wormwood, and Mr. Wormwood. He took part in the musical's 2013 Tony Awards Performance, alongside the rest of his fellow cast members. [26] In 2014, he played the dog Porthos in the American Repertory Theatre's production of Finding Neverland. [27] [28]

2014–present: Hamilton on Broadway

Jasperson in ensemble costume in 2015. Thayne Jasperson at Obama Greet 2015.png
Jasperson in ensemble costume in 2015.

In January of 2014, Jasperson participated in the first workshop of the musical Hamilton, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. [29] [30] From the rest of the workshops to the Off-Broadway and Broadway openings in 2015, he 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. [31] In June 2016, Jasperson performed alongside the rest of the Broadway cast in the 70th Tony Awards. The musical received 16 Tony nominations and won 11 awards, setting a record for the most Tony nominations in history, as well as winning second most Tony Awards for a single production in history. [32] In the professional recording of the show, recorded shortly after the Tony Awards, he is seen as the role he originated, Seabury. [33]

Jasperson is the only original cast member still performing the show onstage at Richard Rogers Theatre, having been there for ten years. [8] He temporarily left the show one time in late 2022 to join the Off-Broadway production of Only Gold. [34] [35] Because he has been in the Richard Rodgers Theatre so long, there was miniseries called “At Home (The Richard Rodgers)”, [a] featuring Jasperson as the main subject. Episodes were posted on official Hamilton social media accounts. It was originally announced in March 2025, and the series ended around June 2025. [36]

On June 8, 2025, Jasperson performed with the original Broadway cast members of Hamilton at the 78th Annual Tony Awards. [37] [38]

Additional projects

In the middle of December 2024, Jasperson provided the lead vocals for the song "Give Santa The Sack" by Utsav Bhargava. [39]

Upcoming projects

As of August 2020, Jasperson was writing a show that he planned to choreograph and appear in. [14]

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 a middle school of the town where he grew up. [4]

Awards and recognitions

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2012 Tony Awards [40] Best Musical Newsies Nominated
Drama Desk Awards [41] [42] Outstanding Musical Nominated
Astaire Awards [43] Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway MusicalNominated
Drama League Awards [44] Distinguished Production of a MusicalNominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards [45] Outstanding New Broadway Musical Nominated
2013 Grammy Awards [46] Best Musical Theater Album Nominated
Tony Awards [47] Best Musical Matilda Nominated
Drama League Awards [48] Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards [49] Outstanding New Broadway MusicalNominated
Drama Desk Awards [50] [51] Outstanding MusicalWon
New York Drama Critics' Circle Award [52] Best Musical Won
2014Grammy Awards [53] Best Musical Theater AlbumNominated
2015 Lucille Lortel Awards [54] Outstanding Musical Hamilton Won
Outer Critics Circle Awards [55] Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical Won
Drama League Awards [56] Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway MusicalNominated
Drama Desk Awards [57] Outstanding MusicalWon
New York Drama Critics' Circle Award [58] Best MusicalWon
Off Broadway Alliance Awards [59] Best New MusicalWon
Edgerton Foundation [60] Edgerton Foundation New Play AwardsWon
2016Tony Awards [32] [61] [62] Best MusicalWon
Drama League Awards [63] Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway MusicalWon
Grammy Awards [64] Best Musical Theater AlbumWon
Astaire Awards [65] Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway ShowNominated
NAACP Image Awards [66] Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration Nominated
2017 Billboard Music Award [67] Top Soundtrack/Cast Album Won

Personal life

Jasperson is a Mormon and a member of the LDS Church. He is bisexual. [2] [9] He currently lives in uptown New York. [68]

He has a close relationship with his family, describing it as "beautiful" when he was able to spend time with them during the COVID-19 pandemic. [69]

Performance credits

Theatrical performances

Broadway

TitleRoleDetailsNotes
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) Richard Rodgers Theatre, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler Actor, Choreographer

Off-Broadway

TitleRoleDetailsNotes
Only GoldEnsembleNew York City Center, John RandoActor
Hamilton Samuel Seabury / EnsemblePublic Theatre, Thomas KailActor

Regional

TitleRoleDetailsNotes
Finding Neverland Porthos A.R.T Actor
West Side Story EnsembleActor

Film

TitleRoleDetailsNotes
Hamilton Samuel Seabury / EnsembleDirected by Thomas Kail Actor
High School Musical Brainiac DancerDirected by Kenny Ortega Actor
High School Musical 2 East High DancerDirected by Kenny Ortega Actor

Television

TitleRoleDetailsNotes
The American MallPrincipal DancerShawn KuActor, Choreographer
So You Think You Can DanceSelfMatthew Diamond, Bruce Gowers, Nigel LythgoeContestant
SmashDancerMichael MayerDancer

Notes

  1. ↑ Titled that, as it is a running joke in the Hamilton fandom that he lives there. [8]

References

  1. ↑ Jasperson, Thayne (July 27, 2024). "💜🎂BIRTHDAY BOY today! 22!!!!! … and a half🎂💜 •• #SeaburysFreeThoughts". Instagram . Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Kalita, S. Mitra (July 9, 2020). "What one of the few White Hamilton cast members learned about race". CNN. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  3. ↑ Weist, Ellen F. (April 9, 2018). "Do you need to listen to 'Hamilton' nonstop before seeing it in Salt Lake City? Utah superfans have some advice". The Salt Lake Tribune . Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Romero, Hannah (March 13, 2021). "Live unafraid: Green River native and Broadway star teaches theater class for local students". Wyoming News. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Bauer, Ethan (December 1, 2021). "Curtains up". Deseret News . Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Native Utahn performing for sold-out crowds in Broadway's 'Hamilton'". KSL News Utah . May 16, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  7. ↑ Montoya, Melissa (September 26, 2016). "Hamilton performer Thayne Jasperson tells students: Take your shot". The News-Press . Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Lottie Elizabeth (August 5, 2025). "10 years ago, the 10-dollar Founding Father became a Broadway star — and this Utahn has been on stage for it all". Deseret News . Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Q&A: 'Hamilton' actor, Mormon and Utahn Thayne Jasperson on faith and doubt". Deseret. October 16, 2017.
  10. ↑ Arnegger, Sarah Jane (August 6, 2015). "Schools of the Stars: Where Hamilton Cast and Creators Went to College". Playbill . Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  11. ↑ Jasperson, Thayne (January 21, 2016). "Wow! 10 years ago bein a brainiac in High School Musical and a year ago having started @hamiltonmusical. What a ride this life has been! Anniversary on the same day!". Instagram. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Thayne Jasperson" . Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  13. ↑ Pierce, Scott D. (July 22, 2009). "'Dance' is done, but Utahn is still smiling". Deseret News . Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  14. 1 2 Gans, Andrew (August 27, 2020). "Checking In With… Hamilton's Thayne Jasperson". Playbill (Interview). Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  15. ↑ "TV: SUBMISSIONS ONLY Season 2 Wraps with an All-Star Cast in 'Another Interruption' Finale!". April 27, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2025– via BroadwayWorld.
  16. ↑ Lincoln, Ivan M. (July 13, 2004). "'1776' brings history to life on the Hale stage" . Retrieved October 14, 2025– via Deseret News.
  17. ↑ "Cats" . Retrieved October 10, 2025– via Tuacahn Amphitheatre.
  18. 1 2 Hansen, Erica (June 14, 2009). "Tuachan dancing up a storm with 'Footloose,' 'Annie'". Deseret News . Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Annie" . Retrieved October 28, 2025– via Tuacahn Amphitheater.
  20. ↑ Hansen, Erica (July 16, 2009). "'Footloose' full of great dancing". Deseret News . Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Disney's Tarzan" . Retrieved November 19, 2025– via Tuacahn Amphitheater.
  22. ↑ "Thayne Jasperson". IBDB . Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  23. ↑ "The AlphaNYC Interview with Thayne Jasperson". June 7, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2025– via YouTube.
  24. ↑ "Newsies 2012 Tony Awards". March 31, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2025– via YouTube.
  25. ↑ "Matilda the Musical announces complete cast". New York Theatre Guide. October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  26. ↑ Gioia, Michael (June 10, 2013). "THE SCREENING ROOM: Performances From the 2013 Tony Awards, Including 'Kinky Boots', 'Matilda' and More". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Thayne Jasperson". A Class Act NY. 2021.
  28. ↑ "From Growls To Canine Gait, A.R.T. Actor Embraces His Animal Role". WBUR. August 22, 2014.
  29. ↑ Wilde, Whitney Butters (April 4, 2018). "The story of 'Hamilton': From Mexico to Broadway to Salt Lake's Eccles Theater (finally!)". Deseret News . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  30. ↑ Johnson, Lottie Elizabeth (September 10, 2021). "Yes, 'Hamilton' is still coming to Utah. Here's how to get tickets". Deseret News . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  31. ↑ "New York Cast". hamiltonmusical.com. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  32. 1 2 Paulson, Michael (May 3, 2016). "the hip-hop musical about America's first Treasury secretary". The New York Times . Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  33. ↑ Menta, Anna (July 3, 2020). "Which 'Hamilton' Cast Will the Disney+ Movie Have". Decider. Archived from the original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  34. ↑ Wiltbank, Michael (October 20, 2022). "Exclusive: See Production Photos of Kate Nash's Only Gold". Playbill . Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  35. ↑ "ONLY GOLD". MCC Theater . Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Series dropping soon— At Home (The Richard Rodgers) with Thayne Jasperson". Instagram. March 28, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Original 'Hamilton' Cast To Reunite At Tony Awards". May 29, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025– via Deadline Hollywood.
  38. ↑ "A Hamilton Reunion at Tony Awards 2025: Watch the Performance Here". June 8, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025– via Playbill.
  39. ↑ "Give Santa the Sack (feat. Thayne Jasperson) - Single". Apple Music. December 19, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Disney's NEWSIES on Broadway - 2012 Tony Nominations". Disney on Broadway. May 2, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2025– via YouTube.
  41. ↑ "Nominees and Recipients 2012 Awards". Drama Desk . Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  42. ↑ "The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  43. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (May 8, 2012). "Hugh Jackman, Jeremy Jordan, Elena Roger, Ricky Martin and Newsies Nab Astaire Award Nominations". Playbill . Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Drama League 2012 Award Winners". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  45. ↑ Gans, Andrew (May 24, 2025). "Outer Critics Circle Awards Presented By Josh Gad, James Earl Jones, Montego Glover and More May 24". Playbill . Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  46. ↑ Jones, Kenneth (December 6, 2012). "Grammy Nominees for Musical Album Include Nice Work, Once, Follies, Newsies and Porgy and Bess; Shaiman & Wittman, Too". Playbill . Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  47. ↑ "2013 TONY AWARD® NOMINATIONS". Tony Awards . April 30, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  48. ↑ Gans, Andrew (April 23, 2013). "Nominees Announced for 79th Annual Drama League Awards". Playbill . Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  49. ↑ Gans, Andrew (May 13, 2013). "Pippin Is Big Winner of 2012-13 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill . Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  50. ↑ Paulson, Michael (May 20, 2013). "'Matilda' Wins Big at Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times . Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  51. ↑ "The 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards". New York Theatre Guide. October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  52. ↑ "New York Drama Critics' Circle names "Matilda" top musical". CBS News . May 3, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  53. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (January 26, 2014). "Kinky Boots Wins Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album". Playbill . Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  54. ↑ "2015 Nominees: Lucille Lortel Awards". Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  55. ↑ Cox, Gordon (May 11, 2015). "Outer Critic Circle Awards 2015 (FULL LIST): 'Curious Incident' Wins Big". Variety . Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  56. ↑ Cox, Gordon (April 21, 2015). "Drama League Nominations: Bradley Cooper, Helen Mirren, Jake Gyllenhaal (FULL LIST)". Variety . Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  57. ↑ Cox, Gordon (May 31, 2015). "'Hamilton' 'Curious Incident' Top the 2015 Drama Desk Awards (FULL LIST)". Variety . Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  58. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (May 4, 2015). "Hamilton and Between Riverside and Crazy win 2015 New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards". Playbill . Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  59. ↑ "And the Winners of the 2015 OBA Awards are..." Off Broadway Alliance. May 21, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  60. ↑ "2014 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards". Edgerton Foundation. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  61. ↑ "Winners / 2016". Tony Awards . Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  62. ↑ Viagas, Robert (June 12, 2016). "Hamilton Tops Tony Awards With 11 Wins". Playbill . Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  63. ↑ Cox, Gordon (May 20, 2016). "'Hamilton,' 'The Humans' Win 2016 Drama League Awards". Variety . Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  64. ↑ "Grammy Awards: Complete Winners List". Variety . February 15, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  65. ↑ Viagas, Robert; Clement, Olivia (May 16, 2016). "Savion Glover and Jane Krakowski Among 2016 Astaire Award Winners". Playbill . Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  66. ↑ "'Straight Outta Compton,' 'Empire,' Michael B. Jordan Top NAACP Image Awards". Variety . February 5, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  67. ↑ "2017 BBMAs Announce Non-Televised Award Recipients". Billboard Music Awards. May 21, 2017. Archived from the original on June 5, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  68. ↑ "The only actor who's been in 'Hamilton' the whole time is still having a blast". August 5, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025– via The Washington Post.
  69. ↑ "'Hamilton' star presents master class in Sarasota on his way back to Broadway". Herald-Tribune. July 9, 2021.
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