Kyle Scatliffe (born July 18, 1986) is an American stage actor best known for playing Enjolras in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Misérables, and Harpo in the 2015 Broadway Revival of The Color Purple. He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical in 2014 for his performance as Haywood Patterson in The Scottsboro Boys.
Scatliffe has portrayed the role of the Marquis de Lafayette / Thomas Jefferson in the second U.S. tour of Hamilton, which began performances in February 2018.
Early life and education
Scatliffe grew up in Westwood, New Jersey, as the youngest of five children, and attended Westwood Regional High School. Scatliffe did not have an interest in theatre until his school's drama teacher convinced him to begin performing as she saw that he had natural talent. Scatliffe performed in the high school's drama group which was named "The Woodington Players". Scatliffe's performances during high school included parts in "To Kill a Mockingbird", "City of Angels", and "Guys and Dolls". After high school, Scatliffe attended Bergen Community College in Paramus, New Jersey, and then attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York for two years.
Acting career
With the recommendation from an AMDA professor, Scatliffe quickly booked his first professional part in Disney's Aida at the Coastal Carolina Arts Center. Afterwards, he appeared in regional productions of Oklahoma! and Ragtime, as well as performing in various roles on Disney Cruise Lines.
In 2012, producer Robert Christianson cast Scatliffe in A Christmas Carol: The Concert, an original adaptation of the Dickens classic tale, with music by Christianson and lyrics by Alisa Klein Hauser. Scatliffe played Marley's Ghost, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, and other assorted roles. Scatliffe reprised the role in HMS Media's 2013 national PBS special of the production, which was executive produced by Christianson and also starred E. Faye Butler, Michael Aaron Lindner, Scott Coulter and Arya Daire.
In 2013, Scatliffe was cast as the leading role of Haywood Patterson in the West End Production of The Scottsboro Boys. He received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance. While starring in the show, producer Cameron Mackintosh saw Scatliffe's performance, and requested that he audition for the role of the failed revolutionary leader, Enjolras, in the upcoming Broadway revival of Les Misérables. Scatliffe's audition was conducted on the stage of the Queen's Theatre, which is home to the currently running West End production of Les Misérables.
He performed with the show from its opening in March 2014 to early 2015. Soon after his run in Les Misérables was completed, Scatliffe began rehearsing for the role of Harpo in the 2015 Broadway Revival of The Color Purple at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. He remained with the show until its closing on January 8, 2017.
Scatliffe portrayed the role of Marquis de Lafayette / Thomas Jefferson in the second U.S. tour of Hamilton, beginning performances in February 2018.
Theatre credits
| Year | Production | Role | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Aida | Mereb | Regional |
| 2011 | Oklahoma! | Curly | |
| 2012 | Ragtime | Younger Brother | Shaw Festival |
| 2013–14 | The Scottsboro Boys | Haywood Patterson | West End |
| 2014–15 | Les Misérables | Enjolras | Broadway |
| 2015–17 | The Color Purple | Harpo | |
| 2018–19 | Hamilton | Marquis de Lafayette / Thomas Jefferson | Second U.S. Tour |
| 2019 | Broadway (replacement) | ||
| 2019 | To Kill a Mockingbird | Tom Robinson | |
| 2021 | Merry Wives | Mister Kwame Page | Delacorte Theatre |
| 2021–23 | Hamilton | Marquis de Lafayette / Thomas Jefferson | Broadway (replacement) |
| 2023 | The 12 | John | Regional |
| 2023-24 | Hamilton | Marquis de Lafayette / Thomas Jefferson | Broadway (replacement) |
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | The Scottsboro Boys | Nominated |
References
- "Kyle Scatliffe – Broadway Theatre Credits, Photos, Who's Who – Playbill Vault". www.playbillvault.com. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- "Olivier Winners 2014". www.olivierawards.com. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- ^ "In the Room Where It Happens! Joseph Morales & Nik Walker to Headline the Blockbuster Hamilton Tour". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
- Feldberg, Robert. "Feldberg: Shot for Westwood's Kyle Scatliffe to show range", The Record (Bergen County), February 3, 2017. Accessed November 22, 2017. "Kyle Scatliffe, who grew up in Westwood and began his performing life in the borough’s high school, has had a notable start to his musical-theater career."
- ^ Robert, Feldberg. "Westwood's Kyle Scatliffe stars in 'Les Miserables'". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- "Broadway Revival Brings a Different Shade to The Color Purple". The Root. Archived from the original on 2016-01-04. Retrieved 2016-01-10.