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 YearProductionRoleCategoryRef2012Fiddler on the RoofEnsembleMusical Theatre Wichita9 To 5Bob Enright / EnsembleHONK!EnsembleSingin' In The RainLegally BlondePadaman/Nikos2013Les MisérablesCourfeyracBetty Blue EyesFrancis LockwoodMary PoppinsEnsembleThe King and I2014South PacificProfessorWest Side StoryChinoJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatButlerCatch Me If You CanFBI Agent Johnny Dollar42nd StreetBert Barry2015Spring AwakeningMelchiorHangar TheatreSwing u/s Melchior, Hanschen, Georg, OttoDeaf West revival on BroadwayThe Theory of RelativityRyanNorma Terris Theatre with Goodspeed Musicals2016EvitaCheOlney Theatre CenterSpamiltonLin-Manuel MirandaTriad Theatre2017soot and spitHerbertNew Ohio Theatre, World Premiere2018Les MisérablesMariusNorth America tour2019HamiltonEnsemble u/s Alexander Hamilton, John Laurens/Philip HamiltonChicago, CIBC Theater2020Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatZebulonLincoln Center, 50th Anniversary Concert2021The VisitorEnsemble/NasimThe Public Theater, World Premiere2022Somewhere Over The BorderAdán/CruzSyracuse Stage & Geva Theatre, World PremiereSister ActPabloPittsburgh CLO2023The Last Wide OpenRobertoAdirondack Theatre Festival2024Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Ensemble (u/s Pierre, Andrey)The New Bund 31 PAC, ShanghaiWaitressEarlThe Cape Playhouse2025The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeWilliam BarfeePeterborough PlayersLittle Shop of HorrorsSeymourPlaymakers Repertory Company2026Operation Mincemeatu/s Charles Cholmondeley & Others, Hester Leggatt & OthersJohn Golden Theatre, Broadway
Television credits YearShowRef2021Girls5Eva2021Pose2023Poker Face2024Elsbeth2025Law And Order: Organized Crime2025FBI (CBS)
Awards YearAwardOutcomeRef2013AEA Robert Sturtevant AwardWinner2014Lotte Lenya CompetitionFinalist
References