Robert Ariza

Robert Ariza
Ariza in 2025
Born (1990-04-06) April 6, 1990 (age 36)
Queens, New York
EducationUniversity of Michigan (B.F.A.)
OccupationActor
Websiterobertariza.com

Robert Ariza (born April 6, 1990) is an American television and stage actor from Queens, New York. He is best known for his performances in the cast of Deaf West's 2015 revival of Spring Awakening, and in productions of Hamilton (Chicago), Les Misérables (National Tour), and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (Shanghai).

Early life and education

Robert Ariza was born in Queens, New York. He first discovered musical theatre as a teenager, when he attended a teen drama camp and acted in a production of Footloose. He graduated from LaGuardia Arts High School, where he majored in Voice, and attended the University of Michigan, where he received a BFA in Musical Theatre.

Career

Musical Theatre Wichita (2012-2014)

During and immediately after his time at the University of Michigan, Ariza performed with Musical Theatre Wichita, a summer theatre in Kansas, for three seasons. He made his MTW debut in 2012 summer season with ensemble roles in Fiddler on the Roof, 9 to 5, HONK!, and Singin' In The Rain. That same year, he was cast as Padaman/Nikos in MTW's Legally Blonde. In 2013, he played Courfeyrac in Les Misérables, Francis Lockwood in Betty Blue Eyes, and performed in the ensembles of Mary Poppins and The King and I. In the 2014 season, he played Professor in South Pacific, Chino in West Side Story, Butler in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, FBI Agent Johnny Dollar in Catch Me If You Can, and Bert Barry in 42nd Street.

East Coast Theatre and Broadway Debut (2015-2017)

Ariza made his Broadway debut as a swing in Deaf West's 2015 revival of Spring Awakening. He learned American Sign Language for the role.

National Tours (2017-2020)

In 2017, he performed as Marius in the Les Misérables North American tour, and in 2020, he joined the Chicago production of Hamilton.

Return to Broadway (2026)

In February 2026, it was announced that Ariza would be returning to Broadway as an understudy for Charles Cholmondeley & Others and Hester Leggatt & Others in the first all-American cast of Operation Mincemeat.

Theatre credits

Year Production Role Category Ref
2012 Fiddler on the Roof Ensemble Musical Theatre Wichita
9 To 5 Bob Enright / Ensemble
HONK! Ensemble
Singin' In The Rain
Legally Blonde Padaman/Nikos
2013 Les Misérables Courfeyrac
Betty Blue Eyes Francis Lockwood
Mary Poppins Ensemble
The King and I
2014 South Pacific Professor
West Side Story Chino
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Butler
Catch Me If You Can FBI Agent Johnny Dollar
42nd Street Bert Barry
2015 Spring Awakening Melchior Hangar Theatre
Swing

u/s Melchior, Hanschen, Georg, Otto

 Deaf West revival on Broadway
The Theory of Relativity Ryan Norma Terris Theatre with Goodspeed Musicals
2016 Evita Che Olney Theatre Center
Spamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda Triad Theatre
2017 soot and spit Herbert New Ohio Theatre, World Premiere
2018 Les Misérables Marius North America tour
2019 Hamilton Ensemble

u/s Alexander Hamilton, John Laurens/Philip Hamilton

 Chicago, CIBC Theater
2020 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Zebulon Lincoln Center, 50th Anniversary Concert
2021 The Visitor Ensemble/Nasim The Public Theater, World Premiere
2022 Somewhere Over The Border Adán/Cruz Syracuse Stage & Geva Theatre, World Premiere
Sister Act Pablo Pittsburgh CLO
2023 The Last Wide Open Roberto Adirondack Theatre Festival
2024 Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Ensemble (u/s Pierre, Andrey) The New Bund 31 PAC, Shanghai
Waitress Earl The Cape Playhouse
2025 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee William Barfee Peterborough Players
Little Shop of Horrors Seymour Playmakers Repertory Company
2026 Operation Mincemeat u/s Charles Cholmondeley & Others, Hester Leggatt & Others John Golden Theatre, Broadway

Television credits

Year Show Ref
2021 Girls5Eva
2021 Pose
2023 Poker Face
2024 Elsbeth
2025 Law And Order: Organized Crime
2025 FBI (CBS)

Awards

Year Award Outcome Ref
2013 AEA Robert Sturtevant Award Winner
2014 Lotte Lenya Competition Finalist

References

  1. ↑ Ariza, Robert [@robertariza]; (April 6, 2024). "A very eventful birthday today! Got up at 4:30am to drive with my family to Rochester in preparation for Monday's solar eclipse, filmed a self tape (with lots of help from my fam!), went to a museum exhibition, and did some stargazing ✨" – via Instagram. Matua, Angela (September 1, 2015). "Richmond Hill man joins Broadway production of 'Spring Awakening'". QNS. Ariza, 25, is a swing actor, also known as an understudy for several role...
  2. ↑ "Robert Ariza (Performer)". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-12-30. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  3. 1 2 Matau, Angela (2015-09-01). "Richmond Hill man joins Broadway production of 'Spring Awakening'". QNS. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  4. ↑ "Robert Ariza". 54 Below. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  5. 1 2 3 "Robert Ariza". Elite Scholar Advising. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  6. 1 2 "Legally Blonde - Music Theatre Wichita". Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  7. 1 2 "Les Misérables - Music Theatre Wichita". Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  8. 1 2 "Betty Blue Eyes - Music Theatre Wichita". Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  9. 1 2 "Mary Poppins". Music Theatre Wichita. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  10. 1 2 "The King and I - Music Theatre Wichita". Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  11. 1 2 "South Pacific - Music Theatre Wichita". Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  12. ↑ "West Side Story - Music Theatre Wichita". Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  13. 1 2 "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat - Music Theatre Wichita". Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  14. 1 2 "Catch Me If You Can - Music Theatre Wichita". Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  15. 1 2 "42nd Street - Music Theatre Wichita". Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  16. ↑ "A Visit with Robert Ariza". Broadway Books First Class. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  17. ↑ "Ep56. Hamilton, Heritage & Horror: A Theater Deep Dive with Robert Ariza and Maya Jacobson". Beltline to Broadway (Podcast). Broadway Podcast Network. April 8, 2025. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  18. 1 2 Priborkin, Emily (December 23, 2017). "Les Misérables tour at the National Theatre (review)". DC Theatre Scene. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  19. 1 2 3 "Robert Ariza – Broadway / Touring Credits". Internet Broadway Database. Archived from the original on 8 September 2025. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  20. 1 2 Gans, Andrew (February 13, 2026). "All-American Cast Revealed for Broadway's Operation Mincemeat". Playbill. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 "Resume". Robert Ariza. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Curtright, Bob (8 August 2014). "Music Theatre of Wichita unveils lineup for 2012". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  23. ↑ Blank, Matthew (June 24, 2014). "Ali Ewoldt and Shina Ann Morris Star in Wichita West Side Story; Ryan Vasquez Is Tony". Playbill. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  24. ↑ Announcements, Community (2015-06-24). "Ithaca theater to perform rock musical 'Spring Awakening'". The Ithaca Voice. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  25. ↑ ADAMS, BARBARA. "Review: Young love blooms beautifully in 'Awakening'". The Ithaca Journal. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  26. ↑ "Look Back at Deaf West Theatre's Spring Awakening on Broadway". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-09-08. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  27. ↑ "Goodspeed's The Theory of Relativity Announces Casting". TheaterMania. 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  28. ↑ "Downscaled 'Evita' finds new ways to shine". The Washington Post. 2016-06-27. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Resume". Robert Ariza. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  30. ↑ "New Ohio presents Our Voices". newohiotheatre.org. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  31. ↑ "SOOT AND SPIT". KIM WEILD. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  32. ↑ Gans, Andrew (17 February 2020). "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Concert, Starring Noah Galvin, Presented February 17". Playbill.
  33. ↑ Russo, Gillian (2021-10-06). "'The Visitor' announces full Off-Broadway casting, pushes back start date". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  34. ↑ Herbert, Geoff (2022-04-05). "Syracuse Stage announces 2022-2023 season, featuring 'Clue' and 2 world premieres". Syracuse.com. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  35. ↑ Rosenfeld, Jordana (2022-08-10). "Pittsburgh CLO delivers glitzy good time with Sister Act". Pittsburgh City Paper | News, Dining, Music, Best Of, Arts, Film. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  36. ↑ Kiessling, Katherine. "Theater review: 'The Last Wide Open' rom-com in Glens Falls". Times Union. Archived from the original on 2023-11-13. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 "Robert Ariza". PlayMakers Repertory Company. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  38. ↑ De La Vega, Melissa (August 14, 2024). "Cape Playhouse Dishes Up Smash Hit With 'Waitress'". Cape Cod Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  39. ↑ Saari, Ashley (2025-07-16). "THEATER REVIEW: Ashley Saari — Peterborough Players' "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is loads of fun". Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  40. ↑ Atkins, Sarah (2025-04-21). "Playmakers' "Little Shop of Horrors" brings humor and horror to the stage". The Local Reporter. Archived from the original on 2025-12-30. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  41. ↑ Ball, Helaina-Rose (2025-04-21). "Review: PlayMakers 'Little Shop of Horrors' is a masterclass in ensemble work". Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  42. ↑ Amin, Arezou (2024-12-20). "'Elsbeth' Season 2 Episode 8 Recap: Lights, Camera, Action". Collider. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  43. ↑ "Fail Safe - Guest Cast". TV Maze. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 2026-01-23.