Henry was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada[8] to Zadoc Henry (a teacher at Calvary Christian Academy), and raised in Miami, Florida, United States. He currently resides in Harlem, New York City.[9] He had originally wanted to be an accountant, like his mother. However, he was cast as Harold Hill in his high school (Florida Bible Christian School) production of The Music Man and with the experience he changed his mind. Henry studied theatre at the University of Miami, graduating in 2006.[9] He married his college sweetheart, Cathryn Stringer, in October 2012.[10]
Henry starred in Serenade, which played off-Broadway from December 9, 2007, to December 15, 2007.[15] In June 2009, Henry contributed original music to the off-Broadway musical Shafrika, The White Girl at the Vineyard Theatre.[16]
From March 24, 2010 to July 20, 2010 he played "Favorite Son" in the original Broadway cast of the Green DaymusicalAmerican Idiot.[17][18] From March 15, 2011 until the show's closing on April 24, 2011 he returned to the role of "Favorite Son" in American Idiot.[19][20]
2010-2011: The Scottsboro Boys and first Tony nomination
Henry then joined the Broadway cast of The Scottsboro Boys, directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman with a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb.[21] He portrayed Haywood Patterson, for which he achieved critical praise.[22]The Star Tribune wrote of his performance, "Joshua Henry ... ignites the role of Haywood Patterson as the lightning rod for our identification with the men."[23] Charles Isherwood in The New York Times asserted that Henry "gives a performance of keen intensity as Haywood Patterson, an illiterate young man who becomes the focus of our sympathy as he steadfastly refuses to sign his name to a lie in order to obtain parole. Mr. Henry performs Haywood’s ballad of hopeless yearning, "Go Back Home," with a powerful simplicity that slashes through the evening's artifice."[24] Despite these positive reviews, The Scottsboro Boys closed within a month.[25] For his performance, Henry was nominated for the 2011 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, but lost to Norbert Leo Butz in Catch Me If You Can.[26][27]
On January 22, he was among the performers in the Broadway Memories concert performance in New York, in which he performed selections from The Scottsboro Boys.[28] On March 2, 2011, he performed with The Scottsboro Boys' original Broadway cast in Stro!, a gala celebration honoring Susan Stroman.[29]
Henry attended and performed at a MCC Miscast Gala in New York, held on March 15, 2011. The performance showcases "Broadway's hottest stars performing songs from roles in which they would never be cast."[30] On April 10, 2011, he returned to the University of Miami to perform in their Broadway Unplugged concert.[31] In addition, Henry and the cast of The Scottsboro Boys performed in the May 16, 2011, performance of Broadway Sensation in New York City.[32]
2011-2016: Violet, concerts and more leading roles on Broadway
Henry performed the role of Jake in the American Repertory Theater's production of Porgy and Bess, which began previews August 17, 2011, at the Loeb Drama Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It officially opened on August 31 and ran through September 30, 2011. It transferred to the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway where it played from January 12 until September 23, 2012.[33]
Henry performed the role of Flick in the Roundabout Theatre production of Violet which began in April, 2014. On April 29, 2014, he was nominated for a Tony in the category of Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical.
In 2018, Henry starred and gained wide-spread acclaim as Billy Bigelow alongside Jessie Mueller in the third Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein'sCarousel, for which he received a Tony Award nomination. Performances began on February 28 before officially opening on April 12. The show closed on September 16 after 181 performances.[39]
In 2021, Henry became the first African-American actor to play Dr. Pomatter in Waitress.[40] He joined the Broadway cast on November 29 and stayed until it closed due to COVID-19 cases in the cast on December 20. He starred alongside Ciara Renèe as Jenna in the restaged production. He received a Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for his portrayal.[41]
In 2023, Henry co-wrote and co-starred in The Conversation opposite Julia Harriman at Power Station at BerkleeNYC. The production was directed by Lear DeBessonet and music directed by Alex Lacamoire.[46]
In May 2024, it was announced Henry would star as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in a production of Ragtime at New York City Center opposite Kalukango, Caissie Levy and Brandon Uranowitz. The production opened on October 30 of that same year for a two week engagement.[47] Henry received rave reviews for his performance.[48]
On September 23, 2008, Henry performed in a concert performance titled Party Worth Crashing in New York City.[51]
Henry, along with Corbin Bleu and Andréa Burns, was featured on "Dare to Go Beyond: The Album", by the nonprofit organization R.Evolución Latina. It was released on December 13, 2010, produced by Luis Salgado.[52]
^Shaffer, Claire (January 13, 2021). "Joshua Henry Releases Cover of the O'Jays' 'Stand Up'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 February 2021. The track is the second single from Henry's upcoming debut EP Guarantee, produced with Theron "Neff-U" Feemster.
