Kyle Dean Massey
Encyclopedia
Kyle Dean Massey is an American theatre performer, best known for playing Gabe in the Broadway musical Next To Normal, and for appearing in the ensemble and as the understudy for Fiyero in Wicked
on Broadway and on the first North American tour. He also starred in Altar Boyz
Off-Broadway.
Next to Normal played its final Broadway performance on January 16, 2011, which allowed Massey to return to Broadway's Wicked in the lead role of Fiyero beginning January 25. He exited the show March 27, where he was replaced by Richard H. Blake
, in order to begin rehearsals for Lucky Guy, which opened Off-Broadway in April 2011. After Lucky Guy closed, Massey returned to Broadway's Wicked as Fiyero for a three week engagement from August 16 to September 4, 2011, while Blake was at home with his newborn child. Massey joined the first national tour of Wicked as Fiyero beginning November 15, 2011 along with Katie Rose Clarke
, who starred as Glinda alongside him in the Broadway production.
in Musical Theatre from Missouri State University
(formerly Southwest Missouri State University) in 2004.
and lived in Jonesboro
. He is openly gay
. As a child, Massey danced, but was discouraged by his environment to do so and therefore quit at the age of eleven or twelve. Now, he supports the It Gets Better Project. Massey's partner of three years is actor Bryan West, who has also understudied Fiyero on Broadway and the first North American tour of Wicked.
Wicked (musical)
Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard...
on Broadway and on the first North American tour. He also starred in Altar Boyz
Altar Boyz
Altar Boyz is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker and book by Kevin Del Aguila . Centering on a fictitious Christian boy band from Ohio, the show satirizes, among other things, the phenomenon of boy bands and the popularity of Christian-themed music in...
Off-Broadway.
Next to Normal played its final Broadway performance on January 16, 2011, which allowed Massey to return to Broadway's Wicked in the lead role of Fiyero beginning January 25. He exited the show March 27, where he was replaced by Richard H. Blake
Richard H. Blake
Richard H. Blake is an American musical actor.One of his earliest stints on Broadway was taking over the role of Roger Davis in Rent. In 2001, Richard Blake took over the role of Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, a musical adaptation of the film of the same name, having previously starred in...
, in order to begin rehearsals for Lucky Guy, which opened Off-Broadway in April 2011. After Lucky Guy closed, Massey returned to Broadway's Wicked as Fiyero for a three week engagement from August 16 to September 4, 2011, while Blake was at home with his newborn child. Massey joined the first national tour of Wicked as Fiyero beginning November 15, 2011 along with Katie Rose Clarke
Katie Rose Clarke
Katherine "Katie" Rose Clarke is an American musical theater actress. Originally from Friendswood, Texas, she first came to national attention for her portrayal of Clara Johnson in the Broadway production, the live PBS broadcast, and the national tour of The Light in the Piazza...
, who starred as Glinda alongside him in the Broadway production.
Education
Massey received a BFABachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
in Musical Theatre from Missouri State University
Missouri State University
Missouri State University is a public university located in Springfield, Missouri, United States and founded in 1905. It is the state's second largest university, with an official enrollment of 20,802 in fall 2011...
(formerly Southwest Missouri State University) in 2004.
Personal life
Massey grew up in ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
and lived in Jonesboro
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Jonesboro is a city in and one of the two county seats of Craighead County, Arkansas, United States. According to the 2010 US Census, the population of the city was 67,263. A college town, Jonesboro is the largest city in northeastern Arkansas and the fifth most populous city in the state...
. He is openly gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. As a child, Massey danced, but was discouraged by his environment to do so and therefore quit at the age of eleven or twelve. Now, he supports the It Gets Better Project. Massey's partner of three years is actor Bryan West, who has also understudied Fiyero on Broadway and the first North American tour of Wicked.