Andrew James Holmes (born November 14, 1989, in California) is an American actor, singer and composer working in
musical theater
Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, moveme ...
, and a member of
StarKid Productions.
He is known primarily for playing the role of Elder Cunningham in ''
The Book of Mormon'' on
Broadway, the US tour, the
West End, Melbourne and Sydney. Holmes is also a member of StarKid Productions, having composed music for four of the theatre company's shows and acted in four of them. He was the sole composer of ''
Twisted'', leading him to be most closely identified with that musical.
Early life
Holmes grew up in
Southern California
Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...
and graduated from
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...
in 2011.
Career
While still in college, Holmes was a founding member of
StarKid Productions, co-composing the music for their first show in 2009, ''
A Very Potter Musical'', where he also was credited as the music director and played the piano in the pit orchestra. Holmes then reprised his role as co-composer, music director, and pianist for ''
Me and My Dick'' later that year, as well as playing the acting role of Joey's Heart.
After graduating, Holmes was cast as Frederick Frankenstein in the US national tour of ''
Young Frankenstein''. Holmes played this role from September 30, 2011, to May 31, 2012.
In 2012, Holmes returned to StarKid for ''
A Very Potter Senior Year''. He served as co-composer, musical director, and keyboard 1 in the pit orchestra, as well as playing the role of Gilderoy Lockhart.
In 2013, Holmes was the standby for Elder Cunningham on ''
The Book of Mormon'' in the Chicago, Illinois production. He also composed the music for StarKid's ''
Twisted'' alongside Kaley McMahon, who wrote the lyrics.
In 2013–2014, Holmes played Cunningham on the first national tour of ''The Book of Mormon''.
In 2014, Holmes transferred to the
Broadway production of ''The Book of Mormon'' as a standby for Cunningham from January 14, 2014, to June 29, 2014. From July 28, 2014, to January 31, 2015, he played the role in the
West End production of the show, replacing
Jared Gertner.
In 2015–2016, Holmes embarked on the second national tour of ''The Book of Mormon'', again reprising his role as Elder Cunningham. He played this role from February 13, 2015, to May 1, 2016.
In 2017–2018, Holmes continued playing Elder Cunningham in ''The Book of Mormon''. He originated the role in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
from its opening on January 17, 2017, until his departure on June 25, 2017. Holmes returned to the role when the production moved to the
Sydney Lyric theater on February 28, 2018. Holmes departed the production on September 9, 2018.
In 2025, Holmes played Jeff in the
ACT production of Nobody Loves You from February 25 to March 30, 2025.
Credits
Actor
Music
References
External links
*
Official Twitter
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, A.J.
1988 births
21st-century American male actors
American male musical theatre actors
American musical theatre composers
American male musical theatre composers
Living people
StarKid Productions members
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni