Jordan Samuels

Jordan Samuels is an American actor, dancer, and singer who appeared on Broadway between 2007 and 2017, with credits including Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, The Lion King, and Newsies The Musical.

Born in New York City, Samuels began dance training at age three after his family relocated to Columbia, South Carolina. His studies encompassed ballet, jazz, and tap at multiple studios, among them the Columbia City Ballet School, where he later returned as a teenager to dance and compete alongside the Southern Strutt Dance Studio in Irmo, South Carolina. At age ten, he held a recurring role on the Cartoon Network series Fried Dynamite. He also appeared in television commercials for McDonald's, Sears, and U.S. Cellular during this period.

At twelve, Samuels moved back to New York City to attend the summer program at the School of American Ballet. He subsequently accepted a full scholarship to study ballet at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre and at Steps on Broadway. That same year, he made his Broadway debut, originating the role of Boo Hoo in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, a production in which he performed during the 2007–2008 run. He was also among the original ten finalists considered for the role of Billy in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical. As a competitive dancer, Samuels reached the finals as a ballet competitor in the Pre-Competitive Division of the Youth America Grand Prix, an international dance competition.

Samuels spent two years on the first national tour of Newsies The Musical, performing the role of Specs. A critic for the Chicago Tribune singled out his performance, writing that the show was "all about Specs, the newsie with the glasses who's charged with the most spectacular dance tricks," and describing Samuels as spectacular in the role. He has also toured Europe in a production of Romeo and Juliet and appeared in the ensemble of the Rafiki company of the national tour of Disney's The Lion King, where he performed the role of the Acrobatic Trickster and served as understudy for the role of Ed.

Beyond performing, Samuels has worked as a dance educator, serving on the faculty at The School at Steps on Broadway in New York City and at the Baltimore School for the Arts in Baltimore, Maryland.