Kyle Selig

Kyle Andrew Selig (born September 28, 1992) is an American actor, dancer, and singer. He is known for originating the role of Aaron Samuels in the 2018 Tony-nominated musical, Mean Girls.

Kyle Selig
Born
Kyle Andrew Selig

(1992-09-28) September 28, 1992
Alma materCarnegie Mellon University (BFA, 2014)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • dancer
  • singer
Years active2012–present
Home townHuntington Beach, California, U.S.
Partner(s)Erika Henningsen (2017-present)
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life and education

Selig was raised in Huntington Beach, California. He is the son of Stuart and Sharon (née Kennedy) Selig and has a half-brother, Riley and half-sister, Harmony.[1][2]

Selig first became interested in theatre after seeing his older sister performing a local play.[3] As his interest grew, he often attended musical theatre intensives, such as CAP21, during his summer breaks.[3]

He graduated from Huntington Beach High School in 2010 and was named prom king at the end of his senior year.[4] In June 2010, at the age of 17, Selig won the National High School Musical Theatre Award (also known as the "Jimmy Award") along with a $10,000 scholarship.[5][6][7][8] He then attended the Carnegie Mellon University, earning a BFA in musical theatre in 2014.[7][9]

Career

In August 2013, while still attending Carnegie Mellon, Selig was cast as the standby for the lead role of Elder Kevin Price in Broadway production of The Book of Mormon.[10][11][12] He remained with the company as its standby for three months, earning credit towards his undergraduate degree via independent study.[10] Months later in December of that same year, Selig joined the second national touring production of The Book of Mormon again as a standby for the role of Elder Price.[9][13][14]

Selig left The Book of Mormon tour on July 26, 2014 to begin rehearsals for the national tour of the musical, Pippin, in which he was cast as the musical's titular character.[15][16] Selig rehearsed with the touring company of Pippin but was placed on vocal rest just one week before the tour was scheduled to open.[4][17] He was then replaced by Matthew James Thomas, who originated the role of Pippin in the recent Broadway revival.[18][19] Despite being said to be on a medical leave of absence, Selig never rejoined the touring company; but instead, when Thomas left the production, he was replaced by Kyle Dean Massey.[20] In interviews, Selig has alluded to being fired "from one of his first big jobs," but has never publicly confirmed his being fired from the Pippin tour.[3]

Selig rejoined the Broadway cast of The Book of Mormon in February 2015 as an ensemble replacement and Elder Price standby.[21] His first performance as Elder Price on Broadway took place on April 15, 2015.[22] For seven weeks in early 2016, he led the Broadway company of The Book of Mormon as Elder Price, replacing Gavin Creel, who left the production to star in She Loves Me.[4][23] On February 21, 2016, Selig left the production and was replaced by Nic Rouleau.[24]

In the summer of 2016, he appeared as Baby John in West Side Story at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, alongside Jeremy Jordan and Karen Olivo.[25] Selig starred as Homer Hickam in the musical, October Sky, inspired by the film of the same name at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California in the fall of 2016.[26][27] In the spring of 2017, Selig portrayed Dauphin in The Public Theater's world premiere of the off-Broadway rock musical, Joan of Arc: Into the Fire directed by Alex Timbers.[28]

Selig currently stars as Aaron Samuels in the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical, Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey with music and lyrics by Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin, respectively.[29][30][31] The show had its world premiere as an out-of-town tryout at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. from October 31, 2017 to December 3, 2017 in which Selig originated the role.[31][32] The musical, which is based on the film of the same name, began previews on March 12, 2018, and officially opened on Broadway on April 8, 2018 at the August Wilson Theatre.[33]

In March 2019, Selig portrayed Gene, opposite Mean Girls co-star, Erika Henningsen, in Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night at Second Stage Theater, as a part of the theater's "Musical Mondays" weekly concert series.[34]

In December 2019, it was announced that Selig would be taking a leave of absence from Mean Girls, and internet personality and actor, Cameron Dallas, would be filling the role of Aaron Samuels for four-week engagement.[35]

Philanthropy and social activism

In August 2018 Selig participated in Covenant House's Stage & Screen Sleep Out along with Mean Girls co-stars Ashley Park and Curtis Holland, and together they raised over $14,000 for this organization which provides shelter, food, and crisis care for the homeless and runaway youth.[36] Selig also has served as a mentor and held masterclasses for aspiring performers.[37]

Personal life

Selig has been in a relationship with fellow actor, Erika Henningsen, since late 2017 after meeting during the out-of-town tryout for Mean Girls in Washington, D.C.[38]

Theatre credits

Year Title Role Theatre Director(s) Ref.
2012 The Glorious Ones Francesco Rose Center Theater Joanna Syiek
2013 The Book of Mormon Elder Price (standby) Eugene O'Neill Theatre Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker
2013–14 U.S. National Tour
2015–16 Ensemble/Cunningham's Dad (replacement);
Elder Price (standby)
Eugene O'Neill Theatre
2016 Elder Price (replacement)
West Side Story Baby John Hollywood Bowl Gustavo Dudamel
October Sky Homer Hickam Old Globe Theatre Rachel Rockwell
2017 Joan of Arc: Into the Fire Dauphin The Public Theater Alex Timbers
Mean Girls Aaron Samuels National Theatre (out-of-town tryout) Casey Nicholaw
2018–present August Wilson Theatre

Credits in bold indicate Broadway production(s)

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2014 The Price Is Right Himself Episode: "April 8, 2014"
2015 Billy on the Street Himself (uncredited) Episode" "Billy Helps Tina Fey Find a Friend"
2018 Late Night with Seth Meyers Aaron Samuels Episode: "October 1, 2018"
2019 Madam Secretary Travis 2 episodes
Evil Process Server Episode: "Exorcism Part 2"

Discography

Cast recordings

Collaborative projects

  • And the Tree Was Happy (2013)
  • She Breathes (2016)
  • Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 20 (2018)[44]
  • Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 21 (2019)

Awards and nominations

Special honors and awards

  • 2010 – National High School Musical Theatre Award[6][7][8]
  • 2018 – Arts Schools Network's Outstanding Arts School Alumni Award[45]

References

  1. "2010 Kyle Selig Up Close". YouTube. February 25, 2014.
  2. "Frances Kennedy Obituary". Legacy.com. August 19, 2018.
  3. Johnson, Kevin Ray (June 3, 2018). "Chatting with "Mean Girls" Star Kyle Selig". Onstage Blog.
  4. Hertvik, Nicole (October 31, 2017). "Interview: 'Mean Girls' Star Kyle Selig Discusses Playing Aaron Samuels in the Broadway-Bound National Theatre Premiere". DC Metro Arts.
  5. "62 high school students arrive in New York with hopes of leaving with a musical theater crown". The Associated Press. June 29, 2013.
  6. Dunkle, David N. (June 29, 2010). "High school theater Jimmy Awards go to students from California, Georgia". Penn Live.
  7. Piepenburg, Erik (July 1, 2010). "Five Questions for High School Musical Award Winner". The New York Times.
  8. "Huntington Beach teen wins on Broadway". The Orange County Register. July 4, 2010.
  9. Elkin, Michael (June 8, 2018). "Nice CMU boys making it big in 'Mean Girls'". Trib Live.
  10. Mellen, Greg (February 3, 2016). "Broadway debut just the start for Huntington Beach actor". The Orange County Register.
  11. "Kyle Selig has joined the Broadway cast as an Elder Price standby". Tumblr. August 12, 2013.
  12. "Students relish search for the Holy Grail". The Orange County Register. October 26, 2013. Kyle Selig...is now the standby for Elder Price, the lead actor in the Broadway production of “The Book of Mormon.”
  13. "Thanks to Jumamosi..." Twitter. December 11, 2013.
  14. Stanley, Steve (May 14, 2014). "The Book of Mormon". StageSceneLA.
  15. "U.S. National Tour Casting Announced for the Tony Award-Winning Hit Broadway Musical Pippin". Blumenthal Performing Arts. June 25, 2014.
  16. Gioia, Michael (June 25, 2014). ""The Voice" Finalist Will Have "Magic To Do" on Pippin Tour; John Rubinstein Will Reprise Charles". Playbill.
  17. Gans, Andrew (September 2, 2014). "Matthew James Thomas Will Step Into Title Role for Launch of Pippin Tour". Playbill.
  18. "Get an up-close preview of the new touring "Pippin"". YouTube. January 4, 2015.
  19. Gioia, Michael (September 6, 2014). "Pippin Pitches a Circus Tent in Denver; National Tour, Starring Original Pippin and Sasha Allen, Begins". Playbill.
  20. "Kyle Dean Massey to Join Cast of PIPPIN National Tour in Los Angeles Straight from Broadway". Broadway World. October 30, 2014.
  21. ""The funniest musical of all time" The Book of Mormon". Montse Bru Media. August 21, 2015.
  22. "Making my broadway elder price debut..." Twitter. April 15, 2015.
  23. Lloyd Webber, Imogen (January 4, 2016). "Kyle Selig Will Step In for She Loves Me-Bound Gavin Creel in The Book of Mormon". Broadway.com.
  24. McPhee, Ryan (February 17, 2016). "Back to Believe: Nic Rouleau Will Return to The Book of Mormon on Broadway". Broadway.com.
  25. Gans, Andrew (July 14, 2016). "Jeremy Jordan and Karen Olivo Star in Hollywood Bowl West Side Story". Playbill.
  26. Gans, Andrew (September 22, 2016). "Kyle Selig, Ron Bohmer, Kerry O'Malley Star in October Sky Musical, Opening Tonight". Playbill.
  27. Hebert, James (July 29, 2016). "Old Globe recruits 'October Sky' cast". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  28. Vine, Hannah (March 2, 2017). "Jo Lampert Takes on Joan of Arc at the The Public Theater". Playbill.
  29. "Tony Awards 2018: See the Full List of Nominees Here". Vogue. June 7, 2018.
  30. Vine, Hannah (February 2, 2018). "See Who's Bringing Mean Girls to Broadway". Playbill.
  31. McPhee, Ryan (July 27, 2017). "Mean Girls Musical Finds Its Plastics in Taylor Louderman and Ashley Park; Additional Casting Announced". Playbill.
  32. "Erika Henningsen, Taylor Louderman, Ashley Park and Kate Rockwell to Play 'The Plastics' in Broadway-Bound MEAN GIRLS Musical; Cast Announced!". Broadway World. July 27, 2017.
  33. Vine, Hannah (April 8, 2018). "Inside the Mean Girls Opening Night on Broadway". Playbill.
  34. McPhee, Ryan (March 5, 2019). "Mean Girls' Erika Henningsen and Kyle Selig, Jonathan Raviv, More Set for Second Stage's Saturday Night Concert". Playbill.
  35. Gans, Andrew (December 20, 2019). "Chasing Cameron Star Cameron Dallas Will Make Broadway Debut in Mean Girls". Playbill.
  36. "Covenant House Sleep Out: Mean Girls Team Page". Covenant House Sleep Out.
  37. "Photo Flash: Broadway Workshop Celebrates MEAN GIRLS Day With Ashley Park, Erika Henningsen, and More!". Broadway World. January 30, 2019.
  38. Alan Seales (July 23, 2019). "Ep43 - Kate Rockwell". YouTube (Podcast). The Theatre Podcast. Event occurs at 39:15.
  39. Abrams, Juna (January 4, 2012). "Renaissance musical 'The Glorious Ones' comes to Westminster". The Orange County Register.
  40. Auberbach, Brad (September 24, 2016). "October Sky -- How a Musical Tells the True Story of Scientific Achievement Half a Century Ago". Forbes.
  41. "Episode Count: 5,044". The Price Is Right Episode Guide.
  42. "The Cast of Mean Girls Performs "Stupid with Love"". YouTube. October 2, 2018.
  43. Weatherby, Taylor (May 3, 2018). "'Mean Girls' Musical Unveils Latest Track From Cast Recording Album, 'Apex Predator': Listen". Billboard.
  44. Hetrick, Adam (November 19, 2018). "Casts of Mean Girls, Frozen, Dear Evan Hansen, and Pretty Woman Featured on 2018 Carols For a Cure". Playbill.
  45. "Huntington Beach APA, Academy for the Performing Arts Earns Arts Schools Network Exemplary School Designation and Outstanding Arts School Alumni Award". Digital Journal. June 1, 2018.
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