Brooks Ashmanskas (born June 14, 1969) is an American actor. He has appeared both on Broadway and Off-Broadway as well as in regional theatres. Ashmanskas has done limited film and television work, appearing in the 2022 Netflix series Uncoupled. He received Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations for playing various characters in Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me (2006), Barry Glickman in The Prom (2018), and Nigel Davies in Smash (2025).
Early life Ashmanskas is originally from Salem, Oregon, but grew up in Beaverton, just outside of Portland. He is of Lithuanian descent. He graduated from Bennington College.Biography americantheatrewing.org. Retrieved August 24, 2013 He is openly gay.
Career Off-Broadway and Broadway Ashmanskas was in the original productions of Dream (1997),Sommer, Elyse. "A CurtainUp Review. 'Dream' " curtainup.com. Retrieved August 25, 2013 Songs for a New World (Off-Broadway, 1995) and the Broadway revival of Gypsy: A Musical Fable (2003)." 'Gypsy', 2003" sondheimguide.com. Retrieved August 25, 2013"Ashmanskas listing" InternetBroadwayDatabase. Retrieved August 25, 2011 He was a replacement "Carmen Ghia", starting in 2004, in The Producers,Simonson, Robert "Jonathan Freeman and Brooks Ashmanskas Are New DeBris and Ghia in 'Producers', Aug. 31" playbill.com, August 18, 2004 occasionally acting opposite original Carmen Ghia actor Roger Bart as Leo Bloom.
In 2006, he played several characters in the Broadway production of Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me,Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review. 'Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me' " The New York Times, August 18, 2006 for which he received a Tony Award nomination, Best Performance By a Featured Actor in a Musical.Gans, Andrew. "2006-2007 Tony Nominations Announced; Spring Awakening Garners 11 Noms" playbill.com, May 15, 2007
He appeared in the Broadway revival of The Ritz as Chris in 2007.Hernandez, Ernio. "Fame Tony Nominee Brooks Ashmanskas Joins 'The Ritz' Revival Cast" playbill.com, May 31, 2007 He played the character of Mr. Dobitch in the 2010 Broadway revival of Promises, Promises.Jones, Kenneth. "'Promises, Promises' Will Also Star Latessa, Hingston, Benson; Complete Cast Announced" playbill.com, February 4, 2010 Also in 2010 he appeared in the Broadway revival of Present Laughter. He starred as the title character Off-Broadway in the New Group production of Clive at the Acorn Theatre in January 2013 through March 2013.Champion, Lindsay. Zoe Kazan, Vincent D'Onofrio & Brooks Ashmanskas Set for Off-Broadway's 'Clive', Starring Ethan Hawke" broadway.com, November 4, 2012
Ashmanskas appeared in the stage musical adaption of Bullets Over Broadway, which opened on Broadway in April 2014. In March 2015 he appeared in Something Rotten! on Broadway.Hetrick, Adam. "Zach Braff, Brooks Ashmanskas, Betsy Wolfe, Vincent Pastore Set for 'Bullets Over Broadway', Opening in April 2014" playbill.com, June 27, 2013Hetrick, Adam. thing-rotten-puts-a-shakespearean-twist-on-broadway-musical-comedy-starting-tonight-344742 " 'Something Rotten!' Puts a Shakespearean Twist On Broadway Musical Comedy, Starting Tonight"], Playbill, March 23, 2015 In 2016, he appeared in Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed."Onstage" , ShuffleAlongBroadway.com. Retrieved March 14, 2016
He starred as Barry Glickman in the original Broadway production of The Prom, which opened in October 2018 at the Longacre Theatre, for which he was nominated for a 2019 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. tonyawards.com, April 30, 2019
In 2025, Ashmankas originated the role of Nigel in the Broadway production of Smash. He received a Tony nomination for his portrayal of Nigel, the director of the show.
Regional theatre He appeared in the Arena Stage production of Animal Crackers in 1999."DC's Arena Stage Opens Marx Bros' Musical 'Animal Crackers', April 7-May 30" playbill.com, April 7, 1999
He has performed at the Huntington Theatre Company, Boston, in Present Laughter in 2007Donovan, R.J. "Brooks Ashmanskas Took His Time Getting To Boston..And The Huntington" onstageboston.com, June 4, 2007 and in She Loves Me in May and June 2008 (which transferred to the Williamstown Theatre Festival in June and July).Bacalzo, Dan. Ashmanskas, Baldwin, Latessa, et al. Cast in Huntington's She Loves Me'" April 22, 2008 He appeared in God of Carnage in 2012 as Alan.Herick, Adam. "Brooks Ashmanskas, Stephen Bogardus, Johanna Day, Christy Pusz Face 'God of Carnage' at the Huntington Jan. 6" playbill.com, January 6, 2012 His appearances at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, Massachusetts, include She Loves Me in 2008,Hetrick, Adam and Gans, Andrew. Playbill, June 27, 2008Knickerbocker in 2009"Interview, Actor Brooks Ashmanskas" williamstowntheatrefestival.blogspot.com, July 9, 2009 and in July and August 2013 in a new musical, Johnny Baseball.Hetrick, Adam. "Williamstown Season Adds Brooks Ashmanskas, De'Adre Aziza and Reed Birney" playbill.com, June 3, 2013
In 2008, he participated in a staged concert presentation of "Broadway: Three Generations" at the Kennedy Center, appearing in Girl Crazy and Bye Bye Birdie.Gans, Andrew. "Casting Announced for Kennedy Center's 'Girl Crazy', 'Bye Bye Birdie' and 'Side Show' " playbill.com, July 16, 2008 He performed in Burn This as "Larry" at the Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, in 2011.Taft, Kevin."Let It Burn. Castmember Brooks Ashmanskas talks 'Burn This' at the Mark Taper Forum" frontiersla.com, March 22, 2011
He appeared in the musical 1776 as John Adams at the Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C., in 2012.Jones, Kenneth. "Ford's Theatre's '1776', With Robert Cuccioli, Brooks Ashmanskas, William Diggle, Begins March 9" playbill.com, March 9, 2012
Credits Theatre YearShowRoleNotes1995Songs for a New WorldMan 2off-BroadwayHow to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingBud FrumpBroadway, 1995 – 19961997DreamPerformerBroadway, Apr 3 – July 6, 19971998Little MePinchley Junior/Steward/Assistant Director/DoctorBroadway, November 12, 1998 – February 7, 19991999Animal CrackersUnknownArena Stage2000On a Clear Day You Can See ForeverPerformerNY City Center, February 20002001AmphitryonSosiaHuntington Theatre Company, Mar 9 – April 8, 20012003GypsyMr. Goldstone/PasteyBroadway, May 1, 2003 – May 20, 20042004A Midsummer Night's DreamFrancis FluteWilliamstown Theatre Festival, July 14–25, 2004The ProducersCarmen GhiaBroadway, 2004 - 20062006Martin Short: Fame Becomes MeComedy All StarBroadway, August 17, 2006 – January 7, 20072007Present LaughterRoland MauleHuntington Theatre CompanyThe RitzChrisBroadway, Oct 11 – December 9, 20072008Broadway: Three GenerationsPerformerKennedy Center She Loves MeGeorg NowackHuntington Theatre Company, May/June 2008Williamstown Theatre Festival, July/August 2008A Flea in Her EarDr. FinacheWilliamstown Theatre Festival, August 20082009Rich and FamousBingAmerican Conservatory Theater - SF, Jan/Feb 2009KnickerbockerUnknownWilliamstown Theatre FestivalShe Stoops to ConquerTony LumpkinMcCarter Theater, Oct.13 - November 1, 20092010Present LaughterRoland MauleBroadway, Jan 21 – March 21, 2010Promises, PromisesMr. DobitchBroadway, April 25, 2010 – January 2, 20112011Burn ThisLarryMark Taper Forum20121776John AdamsFord's TheatreGod of CarnageAlanHuntington Theatre Company2013CliveCliveOff-Broadway, Jan. – March 2013Johnny BaseballUnknownWilliamstown Theatre Festival, July/August 20132014Bullets Over BroadwayWarner PurcellBroadway, Apr 10 – August 24, 20142015Absurd Person SingularSidneyTwo River Theater, Jan 5 – February 1, 2015Something Rotten!Brother JeremiahBroadway, April 22, 2015 – January 13, 2016Something Rotten!, newyorktheatreguide.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.2016Shuffle Along, or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921Al/Izzy/Mr. Broadway/CarloMusic Box Theatre, BroadwayThe PromBarry GlickmanAlliance Theatre2017Sunday in the Park with GeorgeMr./CharlesHudson Theatre, Broadway2018The PromBarry GlickmanLongacre Theatre, Broadway 2020 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Baker David Geffen Hall 2024Once Upon a MattressWizardHudson Theatre, Broadway2025SmashNigel DaviesImperial Theatre, Broadway2026Are You Now or Have You Ever BeenMan 2 (Edward Dmytryk, Tony Kraber, Martin Berkeley)New York City Center Stage I, Off-BroadwayThe Imaginary InvalidDr. Diafoirus/PurgonTodd Haimes Theatre, Broadway
Film YearTitleRoleNotes2009Julie & JuliaMr. Misher2022Better Nate Than EverCasting Director2022Forty WinksAutomated Message2024A Family AffairDr. Randy2025AtrabiliousTodd Jenkins
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2007All My ChildrenLeon2 episodes2012–14The Good WifeJudge Greg Brochard2 episodes2019Tales of the CityGuestEpisode: "The Price of Oil"2020The Good Lord BirdLewis Washington2 episodes2022The Last Movie StarsGore Vidal (voice)5 episodes2022UncoupledStanley JamesMain cast2022The Good FightJudge Greg BrochardEpisode: "The End of Football" Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominee Result2007Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a MusicalMartin Short: Fame Becomes Me Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical 2019Tony AwardBest Actor in a MusicalThe PromDrama Desk AwardOutstanding Actor in a MusicalDrama League AwardDistinguished PerformanceOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Actor in a Musical2025Tony AwardBest Featured Actor in a MusicalSmashDrama Desk AwardOutstanding Featured Performance in a MusicalDrama League AwardDistinguished Performance
References
External links
Brooks Ashmankas Internet Off-Broadway Database