Josh Strickland

Josh Strickland is an American singer and actor born on October 23, 1983, in Charleston, South Carolina. He received his early training at the Charleston County School of the Arts, where he studied voice under Robin A. Rogers, and also attended Middleton High School for his junior year. During fifth grade, he was taken under the wing of Chuck Long, the teacher and founder of the Charleston Youth Company, a performing arts organization established in 1978. Strickland spent eight years with that company developing skills in drama, voice, and dance. He later attended the College of Charleston, continuing his vocal studies with Deanna McBroom.

Strickland gained early national exposure through his appearance on the second season of Fox's American Idol and on CBS's Star Search in 2004. He also competed in Carolina Idol in 2002 and served as a guest vocalist at the Spoleto Festival USA alongside jazz musician Kevin Mahogany, as well as performing as a guest vocalist with Shania Twain. He appeared as himself on the soap opera All My Children in March 2007.

His Broadway debut came in 2006 when he was cast in the title role of Disney's Tarzan at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. The production ran for approximately fourteen months, with Strickland performing in the final show on July 8, 2007, alongside the original cast. Shuler Hensley had departed the production before its close to join the Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein and was replaced by Rob Evan. Prior to Broadway, Strickland had also served as an understudy for the roles of Mark and Roger in the national touring production of Rent.

In 2009, Strickland joined the Las Vegas production Peepshow as an original cast member, a show in which his costar Holly Madison also appeared. He was a recurring presence on Madison's television reality series Holly's World during that period. On February 16, 2011, he released his debut solo single, "Report to the Floor," on iTunes. The track was co-produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Damon Elliott and Norwegian pop and dance producer Axident, and was followed by a second single titled "Last Dance."

Following the close of Peepshow, Strickland was cast by producer David Saxe in VEGAS! the Show, beginning September 12, 2013. The production, staged at the Saxe Theater inside Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino's Miracle Mile Shops, featured Strickland portraying Elvis and other iconic performers. He succeeded Lou Gazzara, who had held the Elvis role in that show for an extended period. Strickland has also appeared in Disney's Broadway Hits at Royal Albert Hall in 2016 and The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II in 2020.