In 2019, Tveit originated the role of Christian in the stage adaptation of Moulin Rouge! on Broadway.
003–2007: Early career and Broadway debut
Tveit began his professional career in 2003 when he joined the national tour of Rent as Steve and the understudy for Roger/Mark. He was in his second year of studying at Ithaca College at the time; nine years later, in 2012, Tveit completed his college degree, thanks in part to many of his theater roles counting as college credit.[11]
Following Rent, he returned to school briefly only to be cast as Link Larkin in the first national tour of Hairspray. It was in the role of Link Larkin that Tveit made his Broadway debut in 2006.[12] In the following two years, he performed in regional productions including the Barrington Stage Company's Calvin Berger in July 2007 where he played Matt and as D'Artagnan in a musical adaptation of The Three Musketeers which played at the North Shore Music Theatre from August to September 2007, before returning to the Broadway production of Hairspray for a time.[13][14] Tveit made his film debut in Ghost Town (2008), as a young anesthesiologist alongside Ricky Gervais.[15]
2008–2011: Broadway renown with Next to Normal and Catch Me If You Can
Next to Normal and Wicked
In 2007, Tveit was cast as Gabe in the Off-Broadway production of the musical Next to Normal, a show that would define the next few years of his career and ultimately bring him acclaim in the theater community. The initial run of the Off-Broadway production ran from January 16 through March 16, 2008, at the Second Stage Theater.[16] Tveit received a nomination for the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actor for this role.[17]
In the interim time before the out-of-town production of Next to Normal, Tveit played Dean in the musical version of the film Saved!, which ran for a limited engagement at Playwrights Horizons in June 2008.[18] Also in June 2008, Tveit began performances as Fiyero in Wicked.[19] He left the role in November in order to reprise his role in the Arena Stage production[20] of Next to Normal, for which he was awarded the 2009 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Non-Resident Production.[21]
Tveit returned to Wicked in January 2009, leaving once again for the Broadway production of Next to Normal, which began previews in March 2009 and officially opened on April 15.[22] Tveit's performance as Gabe earned him the Clarence Derwent Award from the Actors' Equity Association.[23] Tveit landed on AfterElton.com's list of the "37 Hottest Guys in Theater".[24]
Catch Me If You Can
Tveit left Next to Normal on June 6, 2009, to prepare for Catch Me If You Can, where he played Frank Abagnale Jr. The musical was performed at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle from July 28 through August 16, 2009.[25] Tveit returned to Next to Normal from September 7 through January 3, 2010.[26][27] In August, he also starred in the Hollywood Bowl's production of Rent directed by Neil Patrick Harris, as Roger Davis.[28] He took part in the MCC Theater Miscast Gala in 2009 and 2010.[29][30]
Tveit played Frank Abagnale Jr in the Broadway production of Catch Me If You Can, opening on April 10, 2011, and closing on September 4, 2011.[31] For this role he was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical,[32] the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance,[33] and the Fred Astaire Award for Best Male Dancer on Broadway.[34]
Gossip Girl and other screen acting work
During the Broadway production of Next to Normal, Tveit also had a recurring role in the CW series Gossip Girl as Tripp van der Bilt, the cousin of Nate Archibald.[35] During this period, Tveit appeared in an episode of the television series Ugly Betty titled "All the World's a Stage" as Zachary Boule, Betty Suarez's boyfriend.[36] He appeared in Rob Epstein's Howl, a biopic about the Allen Ginsberg poem and the controversy and trial that ensued after its publication. Tveit played Peter Orlovsky, Ginsberg's longtime partner, opposite James Franco.[37] He was also a guest star on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on April 21, 2010 as Jan, an animal-loving yoga instructor who is questioned about the death of his girlfriend, and then again on September 28, 2011 as Stevie Harris, a man with substance abuse issues who accuses his well-respected former basketball coach of sexual abuse.[38]
2012–2017: Focus on screen acting and Les Misérables
Les Misérables and Graceland
In 2012, Tveit played Enjolras, leader of the student revolutionary group in the film adaptation of Les Misérables.[39] As the 'designated Broadway actor' in a celebrity ensemble cast, this was one of Tveit's most high-profile roles up to that point. On February 24, 2013, he performed with the cast of Les Misérables at the 85th Academy Awards ceremony. In July 2012, Tveit took part in a private reading for a new musical based on the animated film, Anastasia. He read for the character Dimitri, a con man who brings Anastasia to a wealthy Empress searching for her missing granddaughter, in return for a reward.[40]
The following year, Tveit parlayed his stardom into a starring role in the USA Network series Graceland where he played undercover FBI Special Agent Mike Warren. The show premiered on June 6, 2013, and ran for thirty-eight episodes before being canceled after the completion of its third season in October 2015.[41]
Between filming seasons of Graceland, Tveit starred in the Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Sondheim's Assassins as John Wilkes Booth.[42] The production ran from November 21, 2014, to March 7, 2015. However, he had to leave the production on February 8, due to his working schedule.[43] During this time he also began performing solo concerts and recorded his own album The Radio in My Head[44] as well as the concept album for a new Broadway show An American Victory: A New Musical in January 2014 with Ashley Brown, Hugh Panaro, Ruthie Henshall, Alexander Gemignani, and many other Broadway stars. The cast recording was released more than two years later in April 2016.[45] Additionally, he appeared in the film Big Sky which was released on August 14, 2015[46] and performed at the first Elsie Fest in New York that September.[47]
Grease and BrainDead
Aaron Tveit performing at the House of Blues Boston in 2016
Following the end of Graceland, Tveit was cast in a variety of other television and film productions. In 2016, Tveit appeared as Danny Zuko in a live version of Grease that aired on Fox on January 31. He is featured on the soundtrack for Grease Live along with co-stars Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens. He returned to the MCC Theater Miscast Gala in April 2016.[48] Tveit then starred in Undrafted which was released on July 15.[49] His next film Better Off Single was released in theaters and on demand on October 7.[50]
In October 2015, it was announced that Tveit would star in CBS's summer series BrainDead opposite Mary Elizabeth Winstead, which premiered on June 13, 2016.[51] Following the cancellation of BrainDead after one season on October 17, 2016, Tveit had time to perform more concerts in 2017[52] and more screen roles including a reprisal of his role from The Good Wife on an episode of The Good Fight and a starring role in the independent film Created Equal which held screenings in early 2018.[53][54][55]
Tveit returned to Barrington Stage Company for their production of Company in the role of Bobby, running from August 10 to September 10, 2017.[56][57] He next had a role in the Patricia Clarkson-starring thriller Out of Blue, which premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.[58]
2018–present: Broadway return with Moulin Rouge!
In November 2017, Tveit participated in a developmental lab for the stage adaptation of the 2001 movie Moulin Rouge!, cast in the role as Christian, the character originally created by Ewan McGregor.[59] In April 2018, it was announced that Tveit would be reprising his role in the premiere engagement of Moulin Rouge! at Boston's Emerson Colonial Theatre. The musical's premiere was scheduled for June 27,[60] however delays pushed the start of performances to July 10, 2018.[61]
Tveit stars as Christian in the Broadway production of Moulin Rouge! at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre; previews began on June 28, 2019, and the production had its opening night on July 25.[62] Tveit has been universally praised for his portrayal; New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley said that Christian was "a role [Tveit] was born to play" during the Boston run of the show and later said that his 'passionate and uncompromising' performance was his "best Broadway work to date".[63][64][65] Between the Boston and Broadway productions of Moulin Rouge!, Tveit had a recurring role as the aspiring politician Matt Dobbins on the 2019 CBS show The Code.
Charity work
Tveit hosted the 2016 Stockings with Care Benefit Gala at the Bowery Hotel Ballroom. The organization grants holiday wishes to homeless families and those in assistance programs.[66] Tveit partnered with The First Tee in Spring 2017. Tveit himself is an avid golfer.[52]
Personal life
Tveit moved to Manhattan in 2006 where he first lived in the Hells Kitchen neighborhood.[67][68] As of 2013, he lives in Astoria, Queens.[69]
Tveit was in a relationship with musical theater actress Jacqui Polk from 2005 to 2007.[12] He has stated that he prefers to keep his personal life private.[4]
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Ghost Town Anesthesiologist
2010 Howl Peter Orlovsky
2011 Girl Walks into a Bar Henry
2012 Premium Rush Kyle
2012 Les Misérables Enjolras
2013 A Dream of Flying The Young Man Short film
2015 Big Sky Pru
2016 Undrafted John "Maz" Mazzello
2016 Better Off Single Charlie Previously named Stereotypically You
2017 Created Equal Tommy Reilly
2018 Out of Blue Tony Silvero
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2009–12 Gossip Girl William "Tripp" van der Bilt III 10 episodes
2010 Ugly Betty Zachary Boule Episode: "All the World's a Stage"
2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Jan Eyck Episode: "Beef"
2011 Body of Proof Skip Episode: "Point of Origin"
2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Stevie Harris Episode: "Personal Fouls"
2011 The Good Wife Spencer Zschau Episode: "Executive Order 13224"
2013–15 Graceland Mike Warren Main cast; 38 episodes
2016 Grease Live Danny Zuko Television movie[70]
2016 BrainDead Gareth Ritter Main cast; 13 episodes
2017–19 The Good Fight Spencer Zschau 2 episodes
2019 The Code Matt Dobbins 5 episodes
Theatre
Year Title Role Notes
2003 Footloose Garvin Merry-Go-Round Playhouse:
2003
2004 Rent Steve, u/s Roger, Mark US national tour:
January – December 2004
2005–08 Hairspray Link Larkin US national tour:
August 2005 – July 2006
Neil Simon Theatre:
July 18, 2006 – January 18, 2007;
April 1 – May 4, 2008
2007 Calvin Berger Matt Barrington Stage Company:
July 3–14, 2007
2007 The Three Musketeers D'Artagnan North Shore Music Theatre:
August 21 – September 9, 2007
2008–10 Next to Normal Gabe Goodman Second Stage Theatre:
January 16 – March 16, 2008
Arena Stage:
November 21, 2008 – January 18, 2009
Booth Theatre:
March 27, 2009 – January 3, 2010
2008 Saved! Dean Playwrights Horizons:
May 10 – June 22, 2008
2008–09 Wicked Fiyero Gershwin Theatre:
June 24 – November 9, 2008;
January 20 – March 9, 2009
2009–11 Catch Me If You Can Frank Abagnale, Jr. 5th Avenue Theatre:
July 28 – August 16, 2009
Neil Simon Theatre:
March 11 – September 4, 2011
2010 Rent Roger Davis Hollywood Bowl:
August 6–8, 2010
2014–15 Assassins John Wilkes Booth Menier Chocolate Factory:
November 21, 2014 – February 8, 2015
2017 Company Robert Barrington Stage Company:
August 10 – September 10, 2017
2018, 2019- Moulin Rouge! Christian Emerson Colonial Theatre:
July 10 – August 19, 2018
Al Hirschfeld Theatre:
June 28, 2019 –
Awards and nominations
Film and television
Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2012 Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award Best Ensemble Les Misérables Won
San Diego Film Critics Society Award Best Performance by an Ensemble Nominated
[71]
17th Satellite Award Best Cast – Motion Picture Won
[72]
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award Best Cast Nominated
National Board of Review Award Best Cast Won
[73]
2013 Critics' Choice Award Best Acting Ensemble Nominated
[74]
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
[75]
2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Musical Moment Grease Live!
"You're The One That I Want" Won
2017 Sunscreen Film Festival Award Best Actor Created Equal Won
Theatre
Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2008 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Featured Actor Next to Normal Nominated
2009 Helen Hayes Award Outstanding Supporting Performance, Non-Resident Production Won
Clarence Derwent Award Most Promising Male Performer Won
Broadway.com Audience Awards Favorite Featured Actor in a Broadway Musical Won
Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Male) Nominated
2011 Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Catch Me If You Can Nominated
[33]
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
[32]
Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography Best Male Dancer Nominated
2017 Berkshire Theatre Awards Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Musical Company Nominated
[76]
2019 IRNE Awards Best Actor in a Musical Moulin Rouge! Nominated
[77]
2019 Broadway.com's Star of the Year Nominated
[78]
2020 Grammy Award Best Musical Theater Album Nominated
I'm Alive
Aaron Tveit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm your worst fear, you'll find it in me
Come closer, come closer
I am more than memory
I am what might be, I am mystery
You know me, so show me
When I appear, it's not so clear
I'm alive, I'm alive, I am so alive
And I feed on the fear that's behind your eyes
And I need you to need me, it's no surprise
I'm alive, so alive
I'm alive
I am flame and I am fire
I am destruction, decay, and desire
I'll hurt you, I'll heal you
I'm your wish, your dream come true
And I am your darkest nightmare too
I've shown you, I own you
And though you made me, you can't change me
I'm the perfect stranger who knows you too well
I'm alive, I'm alive, I am so alive
And I'll tell you the truth if you let me try
You're alive, I'm alive, and I'll show you why
I'm alive, so live
I'm alive, I'm right behind you
You say forget but I remind you
You can try to hide, you know that I will find you
'Cause if you won't grieve me, you won't leave me behind
Oh, how-oh, woah, woah
No, no, no, I'm alive, I'm alive, I am so alive
If you climb on my back, then we both can fly
If you try to deny me, I'll never die
I'm alive, so alive
I'm alive, yeah yeah
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
The song "I'm Alive" by Aaron Tveit is a powerful and haunting track that explores the complexities of a relationship between two people. The lyrics suggest an emotional and psychological connection between them, with the singer asserting that they can be whoever the other person wants them to be while also representing their worst fears. The line "I am what you want me to be" suggests that the singer will take on any role necessary to please their partner, while "and I'm your worst fear, you'll find it in me" acknowledges the darker aspects of the relationship.
The chorus of the song takes on a more energetic and lively tone, with the singer asserting their aliveness and their ability to feed on fear and desire. The lines "I am flame and I am fire, I am destruction, decay, and desire" create an image of a powerful and uncontrollable force that can both hurt and heal the other person.
The final section of the song is more introspective, with the singer suggesting that they are an integral part of the other person's life and that it is impossible to forget or deny them. The repeated assertion of being alive suggests a level of invincibility, while also hinting at the possibility of danger.
Overall, "I'm Alive" is a complex and evocative song that explores the themes of control, desire, and power in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I am what you want me to be
I am a chameleon, ready to become what you need at a moment's notice.
And I'm your worst fear, you'll find it in me
I represent what you're afraid of and I am it personified.
Come closer, come closer
Even though I scare you, you can't resist me.
I am more than memory
I am a living, breathing entity, not just a figment of your imagination.
I am what might be, I am mystery
I embody the unknown, the possibilities that are yet to come.
You know me, so show me
You're familiar with me, so reveal what you really want from me.
When I appear, it's not so clear
When I show up, it's hard to tell if I'm real or not.
If I'm a simple spirit or I'm flesh and blood
You can't tell if I'm just an apparition or if I'm really there in the flesh.
I'm alive, I'm alive, I am so alive
I am here, present, and full of life.
And I feed on the fear that's behind your eyes
I thrive on the fear I evoke from you.
And I need you to need me, it's no surprise
I require you to rely on me, it's part of my power.
I'm alive, so alive
I'm dynamic and active, always moving forward.
I am flame and I am fire
I am both dangerous and captivating, like the flicker of a candle or the roaring of a fire.
I am destruction, decay, and desire
I am both ruinous and tempting, like the ravages of time and the seduction of lust.
I'll hurt you, I'll heal you
I am both the source of your pain and the remedy to your troubles.
I'm your wish, your dream come true
I'm the fulfillment of your deepest desires and aspirations.
And I am your darkest nightmare too
I'm the embodiment of everything you're afraid of.
I've shown you, I own you
I've exposed myself to you and now have power over you.
And though you made me, you can't change me
Even though you've created me in your mind, you can't alter who or what I am.
I'm the perfect stranger who knows you too well
I'm a stranger to you, yet I understand you better than you do yourself.
And I'll tell you the truth if you let me try
If you're open-minded, I can reveal the reality of your situation.
You're alive, I'm alive, and I'll show you why
We both exist and I can illustrate the reason why you should embrace life.
I'm right behind you
I'm always present, lurking in the background.
You say forget but I remind you
Even if you try to forget me, I'll always bring to mind your biggest fears and desires.
You can try to hide, you know that I will find you
You can't avoid me, I'll always catch up to you.
'Cause if you won't grieve me, you won't leave me behind
If you're unable to overcome me and move on, you'll be stuck with me forever.
If you climb on my back, then we both can fly
If you overcome your fear of me, we can both conquer life's challenges together.
If you try to deny me, I'll never die
If you ignore or reject me, I'll always be there in the background, waiting for you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BRIAN YORKEY, BRIAN R YORKEY, THOMAS KITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CocoH
The fact that he didn't win a Tony blows my mind. This whole show was amazing.
Outmost Essential
Right?
Sascha Houpt
He wasn't even nominated! I know right?
PianoDisneygal10
It was worse when he wasn't even nominated for Catch Me if You Can, since he was even more the star of the show in that one. Yet his co-star Norbert on the other hand...
that one annoying soprano
i mean, the show was a pulitzer award winner, i think that’s a pretty big achievement right there
Loren Cappelson
@Sascha Houpt he wasn't even NOMINATED!! Yeah....I will never understand that. The show garnered all the other major acting nominations. harumph.
Colleen Evans
10 years later Aaron is still killin' it on Broadway. Hopefully this time around he'll get his Tony.
carla boeglen
Yes! He totally needs it. He deserves it so much. I'm just waiting to see if he is nominated so I can cry ( whether he is or not ).
anklebank
hm
Mr. Hades
Surprise!!!