The 2009 hit television show Glee, following an Ohio high school’s show choir, became a cultural phenomenon that is still referenced to this day. The show has also played host to several theater icon cameos, including Josh Groban, Neil Patrick Harris, Kristin Chenoweth, and Idina Menzel.
Various Glee stars have graced the stage after their Glee days, some of whom you can see both on and Off-Broadway today. Curious to learn which ones? Find out below!
Current Stars
Lea Michele
Currently starring in Chess through June 21
Our Rachel Berry, Glee’s Broadway-bound female protagonist, was portrayed by Lea Michele. Michele made her Broadway debut in Les Misérables at a very young age and went on to originate roles in Ragtime, the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof, and Spring Awakening, alongside Glee co-star Jonathan Groff. She has returned to the Broadway stage since Glee, playing Fanny Brice in the 2022 revival of Funny Girl, and now you can catch her as Florence Vassy in the 2025 revival of Chess at the Imperial Theatre through June 21, 2026.
Matthew Morrison
Starring in Just In Time beginning April 1 through 19
Matthew Morrison brought Will Schuester to life. Mr. Schue is the glee club director at McKinley High in Glee, leading the group of outcast students to show choir fame. Morrison is no stranger to the stage himself, originating the role of Link Larkin in Hairspray on Broadway, along with The Rocky Horror Show, South Pacific, and Finding Neverland. This year, he is making his return to the Broadway stage after a decade away. Up next, he’s replacing Jonathan Groff as Bobby Darin in Just In Time in a limited three-week engagement, April 1–19, 2026, at the Circle in the Square Theatre.
Darren Criss
Currently starring in Maybe Happy Ending through May 17
Darren Criss brought Blaine Anderson, Kurt Hummel’s love interest, to life in Glee. Blaine was introduced as the lead singer of the Dalton Academy Warblers. Shortly after his first appearances in Glee, Criss made his Broadway debut in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Additional credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch and the 2022 revival of American Buffalo. In late 2024, Criss originated the role of Oliver in Maybe Happy Ending, his performance earning him a 2025 Tony Award. You can catch him as Oliver at the Belasco Theatre through May 17, 2026.
Kevin McHale
Currently starring in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Off-Broadway)
Kevin McHale portrayed Artie, the “glue” of the Glee club. McHale is one of the original cast members of the show, appearing in all six seasons. After Glee, McHale continued to work on various film and TV projects. In late 2024, McHale starred in a limited run of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. This production then transferred to New World Stages in November of 2025, marking his NYC stage and Off-Broadway debut. Tickets are on sale through September 6, 2026.
Telly Leung
Currently starring in Masquerade (Off-Broadway)
Telly Leung was a seasoned Broadway actor before portraying the role of Wes, one of the Warblers at Dalton Academy in Glee. Before Glee, he appeared in productions like Flower Drum Song, Pacific Overtures, and Rent. After Glee, he was a part of the original cast of In Transit, completed a 2-year run as Aladdin in Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway, and can now be seen as one of the Phantoms in the Off-Broadway immersive Phantom of the Opera production, Masquerade.
Heather Morris
Starring in 11 to Midnight (Off-Broadway) starting April 9
Heather Morris played the hilariously ditzy Brittany Pierce in Glee. Beyond her time in Glee, Morris was also on season 24 of Dancing With the Stars, with Maksim Chmerkovskiy as her partner. Morris will be joining the cast of the Cost n’ Mayor dance show, 11 to Midnight, for a limited 5-week engagement, April 9 through May 11.
Past Glee Stars On Broadway
Glee launched the careers of several other talented individuals who were previously on Broadway.
Jonathan Groff
Jonathan Groff played Jesse St. James in Glee, the male lead of the rival show choir, Vocal Adrenaline, and one of the primary antagonists of the first season. Groff originated the role of Melchior in Spring Awakening alongside Lea Michele. Post-Glee, he appeared on Broadway as King George in Hamilton, won a Tony Award for his performance as Franklin Shepard in Merrily We Roll Along, and most recently portrayed Bobby Darin in Just In Time.
Alex Newell
Tony Award winner Alex Newell played Unique Adams in Glee and was a runner-up on season one of The Glee Project, alongside Lindsay Pearce. Newell won a Tony Award for their performance as Lulu in the musical Shucked. They were also in the original Broadway cast of the 2017 revival of Once On This Island at the Circle in the Square Theatre. Most recently, they were Matron “Mama” Morton in Chicago on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre.
Jenna Ushkowitz
Jenna Ushkowitz played Tina Cohen-Chang in all six seasons of Glee. She made her Broadway debut at 10 years old in the 1996 revival of The King and I. In 2008, she joined the company of Spring Awakening as a swing. After finishing her time on Glee, she joined the Broadway company of Waitress as Dawn in 2016.
Jane Lynch
Jane Lynch played Sue Sylvester, the mean coach of the Cheerios, McKinley High’s cheer team, for all six seasons of Glee. She portrayed the bitter Miss Hannigan in the 2012 revival of Annie. Later, Lynch returned to the stage as Mrs. Rosie Brice in the 2022 Funny Girl revival.
Grant Gustin
Grant Gustin played Sebastian Smythe, one of the lead singers of the Dalton Academy Warblers in seasons three through six. His time on Glee is most notable for his cover of “Smooth Criminal” on the show. He is most known for his time as Barry Allen/The Flash in CW’s television show The Flash. In 2024, he made his Broadway debut in Water for Elephants, originating the role of Jacob Jankowski.
Melissa Benoist
Melissa Benoist joined Glee in season 4 and became a series regular for season 5 as Marley Rose, a new member of the New Directions. She made her Broadway debut playing Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in 2018. Additionally, you may know her as Supergirl in CW’s Supergirl, which had notable crossover episodes featuring Grant Gustin as the Flash.
