Three-Time Tony Nominated Star Receives Distinguished Alumni Award

The award was presented at the Frost Music Live Signature Series concert, Broadway @Frost, on October 15th, 2018.
Three-Time Tony Nominated Star Receives Distinguished Alumni Award

The red carpet was rolled out Monday eve at UM’s Gusman Hall when 3-time Tony award nominee Joshua Henry, B.M. '06, returned to receive the Frost School of Music Distinguished Alumnus Award.  Associate Dean of Graduate Studies Shannon K. de l’Etoile presented the award at the conclusion of the Frost Music Live Signature Series concert, Broadway @Frost, in which Henry performed with Broadway star Marcus Lovett, Dan Strange of the Frost Faculty and the Frost Musical Theater Workshop and Opera Theater Students to a standing ovation. Making a special appearance joining her father on stage was Frost alumni Cathryn Lovett.

In receiving the award Joshua commented: “I am so grateful to be here to accept this award.  I want to thank the Frost School of Music for believing in me, investing in me and pushing me to be my best.”  And, in speaking to the students, relaying how fortunate they were to be at a school like Frost, he offered these words of advice —“Practice, practice, practice!”  

Henry who graduated in the class of 2006, received his third Tony nomination in 2018 for his role as Billy Bigelow in Carousel and also starred in the first touring company of Hamilton.  He began his career in Godspell, and quickly moved on to a role in the ensemble and understudied the role of Benny, in an off-Broadway Tony Award-winning premiere run of In the Heights . He followed up his Broadway debut starring as “Favorite Son” in the original Broadway cast of the Green Day musical American Idiot, and more recently starring as “Jake” in the Tony Award winning revival of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. He also appeared as Jennifer Hudson’s boyfriend in the first Sex and the City movie. While attending the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, he appeared in many musical theatre productions at the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre. He majored in vocal performance.

Marcus Lovett, began his career in the original Broadway production of Les Miserables. He simultaneously appeared on ABC’s One Life to Live. His other Broadway credits include the lead roles in Aspects of Love, Phantom of the Opera, and King David. He has appeared in multiple off Broadway plays and musicals as well. In 2012 he reprised his role as the Phantom, this time at Her Majesty’s theatre in the West End. Other than Michael Crawford, Mr. Lovett is the only person to play the Phantom in London and On Broadway. He is also the Voice of Good Morning America, and This Week with George Stephanopoulos, among others.

Joshua Henry with Award

Watch Joshua Henry and Marcus Lovett challenge each other to give their Broadway spin to popular songs of today!