Hugh Panaro

Hugh Panaro
Hugh Panaro, September 10, 2005
Born	(1964-02-19) February 19, 1964 (age 52) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Occupation	Actor, Singer

Hugh Panaro (born February 19, 1964) is an American actor known for his work on Broadway.

Panaro was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and resided in the East Oak Lane section of the city with his family. As a schoolchild, he attended St. Helena’s parochial school in the adjoining Philadelphia neighborhood of Olney. He played organ for the parish church from age twelve. Panaro graduated from La Salle College High School, Class of 1982, in Springfield (Montgomery County), Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia.

Having a love for animals since childhood, he considered becoming a veterinarian, an ambition which was never fulfilled as he fell in love with theater after having seen his first Broadway musical, starring fellow Philadelphian Andrea McArdle, as an adolescent. Hugh appeared in high school productions of Godspell and Pippin, as well as numerous regional and dinner theater productions throughout his teen years; with his first stage role being Friedrich in The Sound of Music. He began performing at the age of 13 and studied voice with Robert Grooters at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University.

His pre-Broadway and regional roles include Mary Sunshine in Chicago, and the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar. He made his Broadway debut as Marius in Les Misérables, a role he originated in the first U.S. national touring company. Hugh created the roles of Buddy in Side Show and Julian in Jule Styne's last musical, The Red Shoes. He made his West End debut in the original London company of Harold Prince's Show Boat as Ravenal, the role he played on Broadway and in Toronto.