Episode 186 with Harry Potter & The Cursed Child's Riley Thad Young
From his first role as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast to his current work as an onstage swing in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Riley shares how a childhood love for performing grew into a passion for storytelling and representation. He reflects on standout roles in Cats and Next to Normal, the life-changing moment of winning the Jimmy Awards, and finding his creative home at Shenandoah Conservatory. We also dive into the dedication and adaptability it takes to learn multiple tracks on Broadway.
Riley Thad Young (he/him)
Riley Thad Young is originally from Batesville, MS, a small 8,000 person town in North Mississippi. His love for theatre began at the age of 9 playing Lumiere in a summer camp version of Beauty and the Beast. Since then his passions have taken him to perform in Mississippi, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and New York City. He has a deep passion for musical theatre having performed in somewhere around 80 musicals and counting throughout his life! Nothing brings him more joy and he is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to do what he loves.
Riley is a performer that can be characterized by his youthful exuberance and endless amounts of energy. He often embodies characters who bring life to magical, fantastical stories. For him there is nothing better than bringing stories to life on stage using all the physical and emotional energy he has to offer.
Riley received his BFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory in May of 2023. He is very thankful for his time as a Hornet and knows it has prepared him to join the industry. He recently moved to New York city in pursuit of his dreams! He's already been fortunate to perform and explore, and he looks forward to exploring further in his career and in his personal life in this amazing city.
