Rodney Hicks

Raised in Philadelphia, he graduated from Roxborough High School in 1992 and left college in 1994 to pursue acting as a full time career. Shortly, he made his Broadway debut as part of the original cast of the hit landmark musical Rent. Before that, he earned early success performing alongside Lauryn Hill from the hip/hop group The Fugees in the musical Bring in the Morning - A Wake up Call followed by the John Adams and June Jordan pop opera I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky which was directed by acclaimed director Peter Sellars. He made his second appearance on Broadway in the 2000 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar playing the role of Peter and also starred in the revival of Charles Strouse's Golden Boy in the Sammy Davis Jr. role of Joe Bonaparte. He was last seen Off-Broadway in the 2006 revival of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris and can be heard on the new cast recording.

He has appeared in top regional theatres across the country varying in plays from King Lear, Lobby Hero through to Ain't Misbehavin' and Two Gentlemen of Verona. His memorable TV turns has been as Delray Williams in NYPD Blue opposite Rick Schroder, the guest lead Jerome Davis in an episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and more recently playing opposite Faith Ford and Johnny Galecki as Perry on the last season of ABC's Hope and Faith.

Rodney returned to the Broadway cast of Rent in 2008 as Benjamin Coffin III. He was the final actor to play the role in the original Broadway production which closed that year. His performance was recorded in RENT: Filmed Live on Broadway.

Rodney recently played the role of Clarence Norris in Kander & Ebb's New Musical 'The Scottsboro Boys' which was directed and choreographed by Tony Award Winner Susan Stroman at Off-Broadway's Vineyard Theatre. The show ran from Feb - April 18. It will be playing a follow up production at The Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota July 31 - September 25. The show has received 9 Drama Desk Nominations including Best New Musical, 6 Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best New Musical and is the winner of two Lucille Lortel Awards including Outstanding New Musical and Outstanding Choreography. The show opened on Broadway October 31, 2010 after beginning previews on the 6th of that month. It closed December 12, 2010.

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