A. J. Holmes
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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 StarKid Productions, also known as Team StarKid, is an American musical theatre company founded in 2009 at the University of Michigan by Darren Criss, Brian Holden, Matt Lang, and Nick Lang. Originally known for the viral success of their fir ...
. He is known primarily for playing the role of Elder Cunningham in ''
The Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, first published in 1830 by Joseph Smith as ''The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi''. The book is one of ...
'' on
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...
, 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 StarKid Productions, also known as Team StarKid, is an American musical theatre company founded in 2009 at the University of Michigan by Darren Criss, Brian Holden, Matt Lang, and Nick Lang. Originally known for the viral success of their fir ...
, co-composing the music for their first show in 2009, ''
A Very Potter Musical ''A Very Potter Musical'' (originally titled ''Harry Potter: The Musical'' and often shortened to ''AVPM'') is a musical with music and lyrics by Darren Criss and A. J. Holmes and a book by Matt Lang, Nick Lang and Brian Holden.Me and My Dick ''Me and My Dick'' is a musical with music and lyrics by A.J. Holmes,Austrone, Xavier"StarKid Interview: Starship Coverage & A VERY POTTER THREEQUEL!?" Wizardinglife.com, November 22, 2010. Retrieved on July 22, 2011. Carlos Valdes, and Darren C ...
'' 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 ''Young Frankenstein'' is a 1974 American comedy horror film directed by Mel Brooks. The screenplay was co-written by Brooks and Gene Wilder. Wilder also starred in the lead role as the title character, a descendant of the infamous Victor Fra ...
''. 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 The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, first published in 1830 by Joseph Smith as ''The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi''. The book is one of ...
'' 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 Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...
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 Sydney Lyric is a theatre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of The Star complex. The theatre is used for large scale musicals, theatre productions, concerts, opera and ballet. Formerly the Lyric Theatre, the venue changed to i ...
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