Phillip Boykin (sometimes credited as Phillip Lamar Boykin) (born November 2, 1968) is an American Tony Award nominated actor and bass-baritone singer. He is most well known for portraying Hades in the Broadway theatre production of Hadestown from September 2023 to January 2025 and rejoined the company in April 2025 for a run set through August 2025. He later reprised the role in the West End production, performing alongside the original Broadway stars from February 11 until March 9, 2025.
Early life
One of ten children, Boykin grew up in Greenville, South Carolina.[ " 'Porgy and Bess' Phillip Boykin on Finding Inspiration From Audra, Suzan-Lori and Mom | Tony Awards 2012". Broadway.com (2012-01-12). Retrieved on 2012-07-25.] He started studies in Opera Performance at South Carolina State College before transferring to the North Carolina School of the Arts. He left NCSA in 1990[ UNCSA alumni receive Tony Award nominations JournalNow.com. Retrieved on 2012-07-25.] and moved to the Hartt School of the University of Hartford where he received his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 1995.[ "Hartt Graduates Phillip Boykin, Christopher Jahnke and More Nominated for 2012 Tony Awards" broadwayworld.com, May 2, 2012. Retrieved on 2012-07-25.] He later studied toward a Master's degree in Opera and Jazz Vocals from Howard University.
He received the 2015 Hartt Alumni Award from The Hartt School.[ "Student News, May 7, 2015" westhartfordnews.com, May 6, 2015]
Career
Boykin portrayed Joe in the 1999 to 2001 non-equity tour of Show Boat. He reprised the role in the 2008 North Shore Music Theatre production (which won him an IRNE Award), the 2009 Media Theatre production, and the 2013 Wells Fargo Pavilion production. He also played Caiaphas in the North Shore Music Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar in 2006.[ Phillip Boykin AboutTheArtists]
He was nominated for the Tony Award, as well as the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Crown in the Broadway revival of Porgy and Bess (2012). He was awarded the Theater World Award for his Outstanding Broadway debut. He reprised the role in 2014 at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.[ Porgy and Bess ibdb.com, retrieved December 19, 2017]
Boykin portrayed Booker T. Washington in Ragtime at Avery Fisher Hall in 2013. He was also featured in On the Town which ran on Broadway at the Lyric Theatre in 2014-2015.[ On the Town ibdb.com, retrieved December 19, 2017] In 2015, he starred as the Pirate King in New York City Center’s The Pirates of Penzance. In 2017 he was featured in the Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George. He made Broadway history as the first African-American Boatman/Lee Randolph in the production, which reopened Broadway's newest and oldest theater at the time, the Hudson Theatre, which played its last Broadway show in 1968.[Gioia, Michael. "Complete Cast Announced for Broadway Revival of 'Sunday in the Park With George'" Playbill, January 23,] Boykin played the role of Tonton Julian in the Revival of Once on This Island, which opened on Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theatre on December 3, 2017 and closed on January 6, 2019.[Lefkowitz, Andy. " 'Once on This Island' Revival Begins Performances on Broadway" broadway.com, November 9, 2017] In 2022, he was featured in the Hugh Jackman led Broadway revival of The Music Man as Olin Britt and a Traveling Salesman.
He is the founder and director of "The NYGospel Brothers", a gospel quartet that travels around the world spreading the good news.
He was seen in the films Freedom (2014) starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Top Five (2014) starring Chris Rock, and Easter Mysteries an oratorio-musical written by John O’Boyle.[ Easter Mysteries christianfilmdatabase.com]
In 2019, he was inducted into the South Carolina Theatre Association Hall of Fame following a performance of the Once on this Island tour in his hometown of Greenville, South Carolina.
In September 2023, he started starring in the Broadway production of Hadestown as Hades.[ Betty Who and Phillip Boykin to Join Hadestown on Broadway] He performed his final Broadway performance on January 12, 2025 opposite Jordan Fisher as Orpheus.[ Jordan Fisher, Maia Reficco, Phillip Boykin Extend Runs in Broadway's Hadestown] Not long after he left the Broadway production, Phillip made his West End debut after he joined the cast of the West End production in February 2025 to fill in for Patrick Page, after he got injured during rehearsals. Phillip only got three days notice before performing his first performance in London.[ Patrick Page to miss West End Hadestown performances due to injury][ Hadestown latest: Patrick Page gives update to West End fans] After Phillip was originally slated to play Hades for at least a week, it was later announced that due to Page’s achilles injury, Phillip would be performing in all shows (except the filming dates, where Page would be performing) until March 9, 2025.[TheArtsShelf Phillip Boykin and KC Dela Cruz Step Into ‘Hadestown’ on Broadway Tonight April 22, 2025]
Stage credits
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| 1999-2001 | Show Boat | Joe | US Tour |
| 2004 | Show Palace |
| 2006 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Caiaphas | North Shore Music Theatre |
| 2008 | Show Boat | Joe |
| 2009 | Media Theatre |
| 2011 | Porgy and Bess | Crown | American Repertory Theatre |
| 2011-2012 | Broadway theatre debut |
| 2013 | Ragtime | Booker T. Washington | Avery Fisher Hall |
| Show Boat | Joe | Wells Fargo Pavilion |
| 2014 | Porgy and Bess | Crown | Regent's Park Open Air Theatre |
| 2014-2015 | On the Town | Workman / Turnstiles' Announcer / Dream Coney Island Master of Ceremonies / Rajah Bimmy
u/s Judge Pitkin | Broadway |
| 2015 | Big River | Jim | Wells Fargo Pavilion |
| The Pirates of Penzance | The Pirate King | Off-Broadway
Encores! |
| 2016 | Samuel | Barrington Stage Company |
| Sunday in the Park with George | Boatman / Lee Randolph | Off-Broadway
Encores! |
| 2017 | Broadway |
| 2017-2019 | Once on This Island | Tonton Julian |
| 2019 | The Wiz | The Cowardly Lion | Wells Fargo Pavilion |
| 2019-2020 | Once on This Island | Tonton Julian | US Tour |
| 2021-2023 | The Music Man | Olin Britt / Barbershop Quartet / Traveling Salesman | Broadway |
| 2023 | Iolanthe | Private Willis | Carnegie Hall |
| The Music Man | Olin Britt | Broadway Sacramento |
| 2023-2025 | Hadestown | Hades | Broadway |
| 2025 | West End debut |
| Broadway |
Awards and nominations
|
|
| 2012 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Porgy and Bess | | |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | | |
| Theatre World Award | | |
| 2019 | Grammy Award | Best Musical Theater Album | Once on This Island | | |
External links
