Myles Frost
Myles Frost | |
|---|---|
 Frost in 2023 | |
| Born | July 21, 1999 |
| Education | Belmont University Bowie State University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2019–present |
Myles Frost(born July 21, 1999) is an American actor, singer, songwriter, music producer and dancer.[1]He won the 2022Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musicalfor his portrayal ofMichael Jacksonin theBroadwayproduction ofMJ the Musicaland received aGrammy Awardnomination for the cast recording.[1]
Life and career
[edit]Frost was born inSilver Spring, Maryland.[2]He spent his early years moving back and forth between Maryland andWashington, D.C.[1]Raised by his mother, Charmayne Strayhorn, a systems engineer, and his grandmother, a school teacher, he developed two enduring passions early in life: golf, beginning at the age of three, and piano, beginning at the age of five.[1][3]Growing up he sang and played the piano and drums at church, and he performed in an R&B cover band in middle school at local shopping centers. While attendingThomas S. Wootton High Schoolin Rockville, Maryland, he performed in school productions of the musicalsHairspray(as Seaweed),Legally Blonde(as Warner), andCinderella(as Lord Pinkleton).[1]In 2017, while still in high school, he was a contestant onThe Voicebut was not selected by any of the coaches to move further in the competition.[4]
After graduating from high school, Frost enteredBelmont Universityin Nashville where he studiedmusic technologyfor two years. He transferred from Belmont toBowie State Universityas an audio engineering major, but ultimately left school when he was cast asMichael Jacksonin theBroadwayproduction ofMJ the Musical.[1]Frost earned the role afterEphraim Sykesleft the production late in the show's development, and the producers had to locate a new actor rapidly.[1]The production team auditioned many established actors, but none of them was working, and broadened their search.[1]AYouTubevideo of Frost performing the song "Billie Jean"from a high school talent show drew the attention of the producers, and he was invited to audition; ultimately winning the part.[1]Earning positive critical attention, Frost won the 2022Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musicalfor his portrayal ofMichael Jacksonaround the age of 28–33 in theBroadway theatreproduction ofMJ the Musical.[1]He is the youngest solo recipient of the Tony Award in the "Best Actor in a Musical" category, a record previously held byBen Platt.[5][6][7]Myles left the production on April 2, 2023. He was replaced byElijah JohnsonofMindless Behavioron April 4, 2023. He then went on to reprise the role as MJ in the West End production that opened in March 2024.[8]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Origin | Trayvon Martin |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Voice | Himself/Contestant | Not selected/No chair turn |
| 2019 | All In | Shane | Television movie |
| 2019–2020 | Family Reunion | Vocal appearance | 3 episodes (seasons 1 & 2) |
| 2021 | American GangsterPresents: The Big 50 | Clarence | BET+original movie |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | MJ the Musical | Won | |
| 2023 | Grammy Awards | Best Musical Theater Album | Nominated | [9] |
References
[edit]- ^abcdefghijPaulson, Michael (May 19, 2022)."Dancing to 'Billie Jean' Led Him to 'MJ.' Now He's a Tony Contender".The New York Times.
- ^Fraley, Jason (May 12, 2022)."From Wootton High School to Broadway: Tony nominee Myles Frost shares his journey".WTOP-FM.RetrievedAugust 14,2022.
- ^Marks, Peter (June 6, 2022)."Myles Frost was born to play Michael Jackson. A Tony nod confirms it".The Washington Post.
- ^Daniels, Karu F. (June 8, 2022)."Myles Frost's journey from 'The Voice' castoff to Broadway's 'MJ' leads to Tony award nomination".The Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington.
- ^"Tony Award winner Myles Frost to headline Bowie homecoming parade".CBS Baltimore.October 5, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 3,2024.
- ^Culwell-Block, Logan (March 24, 2018)."The 13 Youngest Actors Who Made Tony History".Playbill.RetrievedFebruary 3,2024.
- ^"Bowie State's Myles Frost Wins the Tony Award".Bowie State University.June 12, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 3,2024.
- ^Wild, Stephi (March 13, 2023)."Elijah Rhea Johnson Will Take Over the Role of Michael Jackson in MJ THE MUSICAL".BroadwayWorld.RetrievedMarch 27,2023.
- ^"Grammy Awards 2023: The Full List of Nominees".The New York Times.November 15, 2022.
