All the Broadway Actors in ELSBETH

Since its debut in 2024, Broadway fans have quickly taken a liking to CBS's hit series Elsbeth. Now in its second season, the crime dramedy has become known for its many allusions and references to the grandiose worlds of theater (and even opera) in New York City. Led by Carrie Preston as the unconventional attorney Elsbeth Tascioni, the series features an impressive roster of Broadway alums, and, with each episode, the list only continues to grow.

In the first season alone, Elsbeth featured Broadway's Jane Krakowski, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, André De Shields, and Laura Benanti on the show- and that's only scratching the surface! With more than twenty episodes having aired so far across its two seasons, BroadwayWorld has put together an exhaustive list of all the Broadway stars we could find who have appeared in the series.

Many of the guest stars only show up for a single episode, often serving as the criminal that Elsbeth is tasked with bringing to justice. Others have returned for repeat episodes as recurring characters, which we have marked in the list below. As the series continues to air, we do not doubt that more Broadway alums will grace our screens and BroadwayWorld will continue to update the list accordingly. Take a look below to discover which of your favorite stars are part of the quirky and entertaining world of Elsbeth!

---

Broadway Actors in Elsbeth

Season 1:

Linda Lavin (Gloria Blecher- Episode 2)

Linda Lavin won a Tony Award, as well as a Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Helen Hayes Award for her performance in Broadway Bound in 1987. She was a six-time Tony Award-nominee for her roles in The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Collected Stories, and The Lyons. In 2017, Linda was seen in Candide, directed by Hal Prince. She passed away in 2024.

Greg Hildreth (Lewis Blecher Jr- Episodes 2 and 7)

Hildreth is best known for his roles on Broadway in Frozen and Company, but he has also appeared in The Rose Tattoo, Cinderella, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. His off-Broadway credits include I Can Get It For You Wholesale (CSC), Hamlet (The Public), Moscow x6 (MCC), The Robber Bridegroom (The Roundabout; Lortel nomination).  

Jane Krakowski (Joann Lenox- Episode 2)

Jane Krakowski is an award-winning triple threat actress most commonly known for her role as Jenna Maroney on NBC’s Emmy Award-winning 30 Rock. She earned a 2003 Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for her portrayal of Carla in the Broadway musical Nine and a Tony nomination for Grand Hotel.

Other Broadway credits include She Loves Me, Company, Once Upon a Mattress, Tartuffe, and Starlight Express. She won an Olivier Award while starring in Guys and Dolls in London’s West End and starred in the Encores! revival of Damn Yankees as well as Mrs. Potts in the Hollywood Bowl’s 2018 production of Beauty and the Beast.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Skip Mason- Episode 3)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson has appeared on Broadway in On the Town, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Take Me Out for which he won a Tony Award. Onscreen, he is known for playing Mitchell Pritchett in Modern Family and also hosts the popular podcast Dinner's on Me. His next stage role will be Stephen Sondheim's Here We Are at the National Theatre.

Paloma Garcia-Lee (Lainey Belfort- Episode 4)

Garcia-Lee's Broadway credits include Nice Work If You Can Get It, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, The Phantom of the Opera, and Moulin Rouge! Onscreen, she appeared in FX's Fosse/Verdon, Skeleton Crew, and Steven Spielberg's West Side Story.

Blair Underwood (Cliff McGrath- Episode 5)

Blair Underwood is an actor on the stage and screen who has been seen on Broadway in A Streetcar Named Desire and A Soldier's Play, which garnered him a Tony Award nomination. As a producer, he worked on Pass Over. Screen credits include L.A. Law, City of Angels, and the 2024 horror flick Longlegs.

Alex Wyse (Cooper- Episodes 5 and 7)

Wyse's stage credits include Lysistrata Jones, Spring Awakening, Waitress, Good Night, Oscar, and the national tour of Wicked. Onscreen, he has appeared in Modern Family, Marvel's Iron Fist, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, among other projects.

Gina Gershon (Dr. Vanessa Holmes- Episode 6)

Gina Gershon has been seen on Broadway in Cabaret, Boeing-Boeing, and Bye Bye Birdie. She has appeared on screen in Showgirls, P.S. I Love You, Riverdale, and New Amsterdam.

Daniel Davis (Dr. Yablonski- Episode 6; S2 Episode 1)

Daniel Davis' first Broadway role was as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus in 1980. In 2000, Davis was nominated for a Best Featured Actor Tony Award for his role in David Hirson's Broadway play Wrong Mountain. He went on to appear in The Invention of Love, the Stephen Sondheim musical The Frogs, and La Cage Aux Folles.

Keegan-Michael Key (Ashton Hayes- Episode 7)

Keegan-Michael Key made his Broadway debut in the Broadway premiere of Steve Martin's Meteor Shower alongside Amy Schumer, Laura Benanti, and Jeremy Shamos. Off-Broadway, he appeared in Hamlet at the Public Theater. Screen credits include Pitch Perfect 2, The Prom, Wonka, and Schmigadoon!

Micaela Diamond (Detective Edwards- Episodes 6 and 8; S2 Episodes 5 and 11)

Micaela Diamond originated the role of Babe, the youngest version of Cher in The Cher Show in Chicago and on Broadway. In 2022, she appeared in the Broadway revival of Jason Robert Brown's Parade opposite Ben Platt, which earned her a Tony Award nomination. Most recently, she appeared as Fritz in Stephen Sondheim's final musical Here We Are at The Shed. Screen credits include Tick, Tick...Boom! and FX's Grotesquerie.

Arian Moayed (Joe Dillion- Episode 9)

Moayed's acting credits include A Doll's House, The Humans (Drama Desk Award), Guards at the Taj (Obie Award), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (Tony nomination), and HBO's Succession. He also appears as Agent P. Cleary in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Laura Benanti (Nadine Clay- Episode 10 Also in Season 2)

Laura Benanti is a highly celebrated stage and screen actress, with Broadway credits that include Into the Woods, Nine, The Wedding Singer, Gypsy, and She Loves Me. Onscreen, she can be seen in Hulu's Life & Beth, the hit series Younger, and The Gilded Age.

André De Shields (Matteo Hart- Episode 10)

In his 50+ year career, André De Shields has numerous theatre credits to his name. A multiple Tony Award nominee, he is best known for his performances in four Broadway productions: The Wiz, Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Emmy Award), Play On!, and The Full Monty. He won a Tony for his performance as Hermes in Hadestown.

Season 2:

Nathan Lane (Philip Cross- Episode 1)

Nathan Lane is a staple in the Broadway community. made his Broadway debut in 1982 in Neil Coward's Present Laughter where he starred alongside George C. Scott. His other credits include Guys and Dolls, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Producers, The Frogs, and Angels in America. He has won three Tony Awards.

Christian Borle (Carter Schmidt- Episodes 1, 2, 10)

Christian Borle is a Grammy and two-time Tony Award-winning actor. Christian won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical as Shakespeare in Something Rotten, and Best Featured Actor in a Play as Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher. More recently, he starred as Jim Bakker in Tammy Faye and Joe/Josephine in Some Like It Hot.

Corey Mach (Eddie Reese- Episode 1)

Corey Mach's Broadway credits include Merrily We Roll Again, Kinky Boots, Hands on a Hardbody, and Godspell. He has also appeared in tours of Wicked, Flashdance, and Rent and was seen in the regional premiere of Sara Bareilles’ Waitress at the American Repertory Theater. Onscreen, he has been seen in The Blacklist, FBI, and Uncoupled.

Daniel Oreskes (Detective Fleming- Recurring Role)

Daniel Oreskes most recently starred on Broadway in Prayer for the French Republic. Other Broadway credits include Doc in West Side Story on Broadway, Hirschfeld/Peres in the Tony Award-winning Oslo at Lincoln Center, Billy Elliot: The Musical, The Miracle Worker, Aida, and more. Onscreen, he can be seen in Hulu's Only Murders in the Building and is featured in Jesse Eisenbeg's 2024 hit film A Real Pain.

John Behlmann (Fire Marshall Jake Turling- Episode 2)

John Behlmann's Broadway credits include Shucked, Tootsie, Significant Other, and Journey's End. He will be next seen as Jerry in Smash. 

Haven Burton (Roya- Episode 3)

On Broadway, Haven Burton has appeared in Rent, Legally Blonde, Shrek the Musical, Violet, Kinky Boots, and How to Dance in Ohio.

Vanessa Williams (Roslyn Bridwell- Episode 4)

Vanessa Williams is a Tony-nominated musician and Broadway performer. She made her Broadway debut in 1994 in Kiss of the Spider Woman and went on to star in the 2002 production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, The Trip to Bountiful and is currently appearing in The Devil Wears Prada musical in London.

Becky Ann Baker (Judith- Episode 4)

Becky Ann Baker's Broadway credits include The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Titanic, Assassins, and more. Onscreen, she has worked with directors Woody Allen, Ridley Scott, and Steven Spielberg in various films and has appeared in numerous television shows including Law & Order, Smash, The Good Wife, and HBO's Girls.

Ciara Renée (TruRose- Episode 5)

Ciara Renée has appeared on Broadway in Big Fish, Pippin, Frozen, and Waitress. Other stage credits include The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Paper Mill Playhouse and Tick, Tick...Boom! off-Broadway.

Christopher Fitzgerald (Dirk Dashers- Episode 6)

Christopher Fitzgerald is a Tony-nominated performer with numerous Broadway credits to his name including Wicked, Young Frankenstein, Finia's Rainbow, Chicago, Waitress, Company and Spamalot. He is currently starring in Encores! Urinetow as Officer Barrel.

Michael Ivan Carrier (Laird- Episode 6)

Michael Ivan Carrier made his Broadway debut in 2022 in & Juliet.

Ben Levi Ross (Teddy Tascioni- Episodes 6, 7, 12)

Ben Levi Ross appeared as Evan in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway and in the national tour. He also appeared in The Connector at MCC, Gatsby: An American Myth at American Repertory Theatre, and Ragtime at New York City Center.

Nikki Crawford (Sonali Mani- Episode 7)

Nikki Crawford was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance as Tedra in Fat Ham. Regional stage credits include The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington (The Steppenwolf), Fat Ham (The Public Theater), Stormy Weather (Pasadena Playhouse) and more. She has also been seen on television in numerous projects such as NCIS, 9-1-1, Criminal Minds, and more.

Max Crumm (Lonny- Episode 7)

Max Crumm's Broadway credits include Grease and Disaster! Off-Broadway, he has been seen in The Connector, That Parenting Musical, Emojiland, and The Fantasticks.

Sasha Hutchings (Joan- Episode 7)

Sasha Hutchings has appeared in several Broadway productions including Hamilton, Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, Rocky, Memphus, and Motown the Musical. She is currently starring in the revival of Gypsy.

Michael Emerson (Milton Crawford- Episodes 7, 8, 12)

Michael Emerson is known for his many appearances onscreen, which include Lost and Person of Interest. His stage credits include off-Broadways Gross Indency and Wakey, Wakey, along with Broadway turns in productions of The Iceman Cometh and Hedda Gabler.

Laurie Metcalf (Regina Coburn- Episode 8)

Laurie Metcalf is a veteran actor of the stage and screen and two-time Tony Award winner. Her Broadway credits include My Thing of Love, Brighton Bech Memoirs, The Other Place, Misery, A Doll's House, Part 2, Hillary and Clinton, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Grey House. Onscreen, she is known for her roles in Roseanne, The Conners, The Big Bang Theory, and more.

Amy Keum (Gia- Episode 8)

Amy Keum made her Broadway debut in the musical KPOP. 

Sullivan Jones (Cameron Clayden- Episode 8)

Sullivan Jones appeared in the original Broadway production of Jeremy O. Harris' Slave Play. Screen credits include Parks and Recreation, The Good Fight, Atlanta, Harlem, and The Gilded Age.

Michael Hsu Rosen (Cole Campbell- Episode 9)

Michael Rosen has been seen on Broadway in West Side Story and On the Town. His screen credits include Jessica Jones, Tiny Pretty Thing, The Good Doctor, and The Sex Lives of College Girls.

Jenn Colella (Captain Kershaw- Episode 9)

Jenn Colella's Broadway credits include Urban Cowboy, High Fidelity, Chaplin, If/Then, Come From Away, and Suffs. She receives a Tony Award nomination for her performance in Come From Away.

Eric McCormack (Tom Murphy- Episode 9)

Eric McCormack has starred on Broadway as The Music Man, and, more recently, in The Cottage. McCormack is best known for playing Will Truman in NBC's Will & Grace and has also appeared in several other screen projects including Travelers, Perception, and Ally McBeal.

Cailen Fu (Starlight- Episode 9)

Cailen Fu made her Broadway debut in Mean Girls. In addition to Elsbeth, her other screen credits include Law & Order and Kinda Pregnant.

Tina Benko (Ava Mornay- Episode 10)

Tina Benko’s Broadway appearances include Irena’s Vow, Top Girls, The Real Thing, Not About Nightingales, and Hedda Gabler. She was most recently seen on Broadway in Appropriate. Her film and television credits include The Greatest Showman, The Avengers, Ugly Betty, and Showtime’s Brotherhood. 

Alan Ruck (Bill Hepson/Peter Hepson- Episode 10)

Alan Ruck's Broadway credits include Biloxi Blues, The Producers, and Absurd Person Singular. Screen credits include Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Twister, Spin City, and Succession.

Michael Park (Van Ness- Episode 10)

Michael Park is known for his role as Larry Murphy in the original Broadway cast of Dear Evan Hansen. Other Broadway credits include Tuck Everlasting, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Carousel. He is currently starring in Redwood alongside Idina Menzel.

Alex Hurt (Charles Jeffries- Episode 11)

Alex Hurt made his Broadway debut in 2013 in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and was recently seen in the 2024 Broadway production of Patriots. TV credits include Bonding, Billions, Super Pumped, Homeland, The Good Fight and New Amsterdam. 

Alfredo Narciso (Howard Thorwald- Episode 11)

Broadway credits include Time and the Conways, Motherf***er With The Hat, and A Streetcar Named Desire. He has been seen on screen in numerous television shows including Homeland, Elementary, House of Cards, The Family, The Blacklist, and The Good Wife, among others. 

Adam Kaplan (Episode 11- Rob)

Adam Kaplan most recently played Calogero in A Bronx Tale on Broadway. He has also been seen on Broadway in Newsies, Show Boat with the New York Philharmonic and the national tour of Kinky Boots.

Desi Oakley (Cosmetics Clerk- Episode 11)

Desi Oakley most recently appeared as Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway. She also performed as the original Jenna in the National Tour of Waitress. Her Broadway credits include Wicked, Annie, and Les Misérables.

Evan Alexander Smith (Stewart- Episode 11)

Evan Alexander Smith made his Broadway debut with Amazing Grace. He also appeared in Back to the Future the Musical and the recent revival of Merrily We Roll Along.

Heather Makalani (Topless Girl- Episode 11)

Heather Makalani has appeared on Broadway in Moulin Rouge! the Musical and Aladdin. Off-Broadway, she appeared in Emojiland.

Lucy Martin (Molly Murray- Episode 11)

Lucy Martin was most recently on Broadway in the 2009 production of Hedda Gabler. Other stage credits include Children of a Lesser God, Pygmalion, The Miser, Marlene, The Constant Wife, and more.

Matthew Broderick (Lawrence Grey- Episode 12)

Matthew Broderick made his Broadway debut in 1983 as Eugene in the original production of Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs, a role he also reprised in Biloxi Blues. His musical credits include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (for which he won a Tony Award), The Producers, and Nice Work if You Can Get It. 

Rob McClure (Ethan Brooks- Episode 12)

Rob McClure has appeared in numerous shows on Broadway including Avenue Q, Chaplin, Honeymoon in Vegas, Something Rotten!, and Beetlejuice. He also originated the title role in the musical adaptation of Mrs. Doubtfire, earning him his second Tony nomination.

Rebecca Watson (Mrs. Larkin- Episode 12)

Rebecca Watson made her Broadway debut in the 2001 Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's By Jeeves. She went on to appear in the Aaron Sorkin adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway. In addition to her many regional roles, her screen credits include The Great Lillian Hall, The Gilded Age, and The Good Nurse.

Juan Carlos (William- Episode 12)

Juan Carlos will be making his Broadway debut in the upcoming production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow. In addition to Elsbeth, his screen credits include Grey's Anatomy and The Sex Lives of College Girls.

Olivia Elease Hardy (Beth- Episode 12)

Olivia Elease Hardy made her Broadway debut in the Tony-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo as Delia. Prior to her role in the production, Hardy toured with the First National Tour of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical as Duckling Donna. She also took part in BroadwayWorld's 10th and 20th anniversary concerts.

---

Watch the trailer for Elsbeth below:

Photo Credit: CBS