A.J. Shively

A.J. Shively
Born (1986-05-15) May 15, 1986
Dublin, Ohio, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1999–present

A.J. Shively is an American actor and singer.[1] He made his Broadway debut as Jean-Michel in the 2010 revival of La Cage aux Folles at the Longacre Theatre.[2] He subsequently originated the roles of Billy Cane in Bright Star at the Cort Theatre (2017) and Owen Duignan in Paradise Square at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (2022).[3][4]

Shively is the recipient of a Theatre World Award and a Lucille Lortel Award. He has received nominations for two Drama Desk Awards, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.[5]

Early life and education

Shively was born on May 15, 1986, in Dublin, Ohio. He made his professional stage debut at age thirteen in the 1999 National Tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music.[6]

He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance in 2008. During undergrad, he spent a year training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[7][8]

Career

Shively made his Broadway debut as Jean-Michel in the 2010 revival of Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's La Cage aux Folles at the Longacre Theatre. The production won the 2010 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. That same year he appeared in a benefit concert production of Lerner and Loewe's Brigadoon at the Shubert Theatre. In 2016, Shively originated the role of Billy Cane in Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's Bright Star at the Cort Theatre. His performance earned a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. In 2022, Shively originated the role of Owen Duignan in Paradise Square at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. His performance earned nominations for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, and the Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show.[9]

Off-Broadway, Shively has appeared in Gabriel Kahane and Seth Bockley's February House at The Public Theater (2012), Carner and Gregor's Unlock'd at Prospect Theatre Company (2013), and Teresa Deevy's The Suitcase Under the Bed at Mint Theater Company. The latter production was named a "Critic's Pick" by The New York Times.[10] In 2022, Shively appeared as Robbie Fay in the Classic Stage Company revival of A Man of No Importance by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, based on the Albert Finney film of the same name. For his performance, Shively won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical, and received an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination. In 2024, Shively starred as Gar O'Donnell in Brian Friel's Philadelphia, Here I Come! at the Irish Repertory Theatre. His performance earned him the Theatre World Award's Dorothy Loudon Award, as well as nominations for the Lucille Lortel Award and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play.[11]

In film, Shively has appeared in Syrup (2013), From Nowhere (2016), and Other People's Bodies (2025).[12] On television, he's had guest and recurring roles on Homeland (2017), The Blacklist (2017-2019), Madam Secretary (2018), Hunters (2020), Bull (2021), Julia (2022), and Chicago Med (2025).[13]

Credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2013 Syrup Kevin [12]
Hair Brained Harvard two [12]
2016 From Nowhere Chris [12]
2025 Other People's Bodies Seb [12]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2017 Homeland Ronald Episode: "America First" [13]
Younger Waiter Episode: "The Gelato and the Pube" [13]
2017-2019 The Blacklist Randolf 2 episodes [13]
2018 Madam Secretary Quentin Episode: "Protocol" [13]
2020 Hunters Jakob Schneider Episode: "The Pious Thieves" [13]
2021 Bull Jerry McConnell Episode: "Espionage" [13]
2022 Julia Chef Andre Episode: "Foie Gras" [13]
2025 Chicago Med Corey Graham Episode: "Horseshoes and Hand Grenades" [13]

Theatre (selected)

Year Title Role Playwright Venue Ref.
1999-2000 The Sound of Music Kurt von Trapp (u/s) Rodgers and Hammerstein National Tour [14]
2010-2011 La Cage aux Folles Jean-Michel Jerry Herman & Harvey Fierstein Longacre Theatre, Broadway [15]
2012 February House Chester Kallman Gabriel Kahane & Seth Bockley The Public Theater [16]
2013 Unlock'd Edwin Carner and Gregor Prospect Theatre Company [17]
2014 Bright Star Billy Cane Steve Martin & Edie Brickell The Old Globe [18]
2015-2016 The Kennedy Center [19]
2016 Cort Theatre, Broadway [20]
2017 The Suitcase Under the Bed Mr. Bassett / Barney /
Charlie Moore / Jim Harris		 Teresa Deevy Mint Theater Company [21]
2017-2018 Bright Star Billy Cane Steve Martin & Edie Brickell National Tour [22]
2018-2019 Paradise Square Owen Duignan Larry Kirwan, Jason Howland,
Masi Asare, Nathan Tysen,
Christina Anderson, & Craig Lucas		 Berkeley Repertory Theatre [23]
2021 Nederlander Theatre (Chicago) [24]
2022 Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway [25]
A Man of No Importance Robbie Fay Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens Classic Stage Company [26]
2024 Philadelphia, Here I Come! Gar O'Donnell Brian Friel Irish Repertory Theatre [27]
Titanic Charles Clarke Maury Yeston & Peter Stone New York City Center Encores! [28]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2016 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Bright Star Nominated [29]
2022 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Paradise Square Nominated [30]
Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated [31]
Chita Rivera Award Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show Nominated [32]
2023 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical A Man of No Importance Won [33]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical Nominated [34]
2024 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play Philadelphia, Here I Come! Nominated [35]
Theatre World Award Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater Won [36]
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play Nominated [37]

References

  1. ↑ "A.J. Shively – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  2. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (19 April 2010). "A Family-Friendly Revival, Despite the Sequins". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Steve Martin's 'Bright Star' Headed to Broadway". The Hollywood Reporter. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Green, Jesse (3 April 2022). "'Paradise Square' Review: Broadway Musical". Variety. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "A.J. Shively". Playbill Vault. Playbill. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Q&A: Caught in the Act with A.J. Shively". The Craptacular. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Margolies, Danielle (17 August 2024). "15 Questions in 15 Minutes with Broadway's A.J. Shively". DC Theater Arts. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "A.J. Shively". Broadway Podcast Network. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "A.J. Shively Profile". Broadway.com. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  10. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (25 August 2017). "Review: 'The Suitcase Under the Bed'". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "AJ Shively, Performer". Theatrical Index. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "A.J. Shively". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "A.J. Shively". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "The Sound of Music – National Tour". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "Shively, Cox, Andreas, Hoch, De Jesus, Shaddow and Cunningham Join La Cage aux Folles". Playbill. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  16. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (22 May 2012). "Review: 'February House' at the Public Theater". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  17. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (27 June 2013). "Review: 'Unlock'd'". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Bright Star". The Old Globe. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Broadway-Bound Steve Martin and Edie Brickell Musical Bright Star Arrives at the Kennedy Center". Playbill. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Broadway Review: 'Bright Star'". Variety. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  21. ↑ "The Suitcase Under the Bed". Mint Theater Company. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "For Carmen Cusack, A.J. Shively, and Bright Star, the Fourth Time's the Charm". TheaterMania. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  23. ↑ "A First Look at the World Premiere of Paradise Square at Berkeley Rep". Playbill. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  24. ↑ "'Paradise Square' Review". Chicago Sun-Times. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  25. ↑ Green, Jesse (3 April 2022). "Review: 'Paradise Square'". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  26. ↑ "A Man of No Importance". Classic Stage Company. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  27. ↑ "Philadelphia, Here I Come!". Irish Repertory Theatre. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  28. ↑ "Titanic". New York City Center. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  29. ↑ "Drama Desk Awards Nominations 2016: Full List". Variety. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  30. ↑ "2022 Outer Critics Circle Awards Nominations Announced". New York Theatre Guide. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  31. ↑ "2022 Tony Awards Nominations: Full List". Deadline. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  32. ↑ "Myles Frost, Jared Grimes, Robyn Hurder, More Receive 2022 Chita Rivera Award Nominations". Playbill. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  33. ↑ "2023 Lucille Lortel Awards Announced". New York Theatre Guide. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  34. ↑ "Outer Critics Circle Announces Nominations for Its 2023 Awards". DC Theater Arts. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  35. ↑ "2024 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced". New York Theatre Guide. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  36. ↑ "Cole Escola, Maleah Joi Moon, Rachel McAdams, More Win 2024 Theatre World Awards". Playbill. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  37. ↑ "2024 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations Announced". New York Theatre Guide. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.