Joshua Colley: Broadway’s It Boy

Navigating the theater industry can be tough, but 18-year-old Joshua Colley has already had his Broadway breakthrough. At just 12 years old, Colley was double cast with Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things) to play Gavroche in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables. Critics raved about his portrayal of the character, including The Huffington Post who called his performance “grounded and believable.” The same year as his star turn, Colley was also cast as the voice of Pig Robinson in Nick Junior’s television show Peter Rabbit. After acting in numerous Broadway and regional theater products over the years (Newsies; A Bronx Tale; You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown), he received the opportunity to perform as Flounder in The Little Mermaid at the Hollywood Bowl alongside John Stamos, Rebel Wilson, Sara Bareilles, and Tituss Burgess. Get to know Colley below as he discusses his standout experiences thus far.

When did you first get into acting and singing?I’ve been acting and singing for as long as I can remember! My parents are heavily involved in the arts, so I’ve been surrounded by music my whole life. I always used to put on shows for my parents and force my twin brother Cameron to participate. My mom was really the one who realized that my talent had to be put to use. When I was about nine years old, she found the audition for the 25th-anniversary tour of Les Misérables and had me send in a video audition for the part of Gavroche. I got the part!

How did you work to perfect your craft?It’s a work in progress. I’m always learning new things that help me improve. The most important thing is to practice. The saying is true: practice does make perfect!

What is your favorite/least favorite part about going on auditions?My favorite part is getting in the room and showing people what I can do. I always get a rush when I perform in front of people. It’s like an out of body experience. My least favorite part about auditioning is the stress leading up to it. I always have nerves, so I’ve been trying to remind myself not to worry as much.

What was the audition process like for Les Misérables?

It started off with a self-tape. I had to send in a video of myself performing the given material. Then, we sent it off and received an email a couple of weeks later asking me to come to the callback in NYC! I had lived in Florida all of my life, and I had never been on a plane before, so I was super excited to go. My parents, my brother, and I went, and it was magical! At the callback, I entered the room and performed for the creative team. Once I finished, I went back to my hotel. About 30 minutes later, I got a call saying I got the part!

Where were you when you found out you were cast as Gavroche? What was your initial reaction?

I was in the lobby of the hotel we were staying at, and our friends had just told us they got engaged. Right after they announced their big news, we got the call saying I got the part. I was elated! I freaked out, and so did my family. We kinda stole the thunder from our friends, but we were all so happy for each other. Overall, it was an amazing day.

What's one thing people may not know about performing on a Broadway stage?

You can't see anyone in the audience because it’s so dark!

What was it like performing alongside John Stamos and Rebel Wilson in The Little Mermaid?It was amazing! The entire Hollywood Bowl was one of my favorite experiences I’ve ever had. I was so nervous to perform with such heavy hitters. The coolest part about it was that they treated me like one of them. They made me feel so comfortable performing by their side.

Any memorable behind-the-scenes moments from rehearsing The Little Mermaid that you can share?

It was the first day, and I was sitting alone on one side of the room while all the celebrities were on the other side. I was so nervous to go stand over there, but then Norm Lewis noticed me and called me over to them. I’m such a fan of his, and I had never even met him before. He introduced himself and said he was a fan of mine! I was shocked. He told me he loved a video from Miscast (editor’s note: an NYC gala) I was a part of, and then he introduced me to the other celebrities. They all welcomed me with open arms. It was so amazing, and Norm made me feel so special.

You also have quite the large YouTube following. How did you work to grow your platform?

I’m just posting things that I would enjoy watching. That’s the best way to grow your platform, because if you enjoy watching it, the chances are there are other people that do, too!

What is your endgame? What do you ultimately hope to accomplish in the future?

I honestly don’t know. I’m just going to see where this wild ride takes me. I know I want to do this for the rest of my life. Theater is so much fun for me, so any perks that come from it are a bonus!