Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has announced that Tony Award-winning, Grammy-nominated, and Olivier-nominated performer Myles Frost will headline its upcoming production of Chez Joey. Following an industry-defining run as Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical, the Maryland-native Broadway sensation returns home to the DC area this winter to bring his powerhouse talent and unparalleled charisma to the iconic role of slick-talking, velvet-voiced songster, Joey Evans.
Featuring fresh arrangements from the catalog of Great American Songbook legends Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, a new book by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Richard LaGravenese (The Fisher King), choreography by Tony winner Savion Glover (Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk), and direction by actor, director, and producer Tony Goldwyn (ABC’s Scandal) and Glover, Chez Joey will run January 30 – March 15, 2026, in Arena’s Kreeger Theater. For information and tickets, visit arenastage.org/joey.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Myles Frost, one of the DC area’s own Tony Award-winning actors, back home to lead this dynamic production,” said Arena Stage Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif. “With Myles’s singular talent, Chez Joey promises to electrify the DMV this winter.”
Frost came onto the Broadway scene full throttle, immediately captivating audiences and critics alike with a breakout performance that would go on to make Tony Award history. In 2022, while completing a B.A. in Fine Arts at Bowie State University, he became the youngest solo performer ever to win the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Michael Jackson. His striking physicality and vocal precision brought international praise, including a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album and an Olivier nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. A self-trained pianist, singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor, Myles developed his vocal brilliance, emotional depth, and magnetic stage presence in local talent shows, school productions, and church performances growing up. Now, the Silver Spring, Maryland, native returns to where his artistic journey began to introduce DMV audiences to this bold retelling of a classic tale about high stakes, hot music, and an irresistible game of romance and ambition.
“I’m beyond excited to announce that I’ll be premiering the new adaptation of Chez Joey at Arena Stage on January 30th,” said Frost. “It’s an honor to bring this story to life alongside industry legends like Tony Goldwyn and Savion Glover. I’m truly grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to share this beautiful work with everyone. I don’t think the people are ready!”
Set on the South Side of 1940s Chicago, Chez Joey follows a silver-tongued nightclub performer with dreams bigger than the bandstand. But in a city where the right connections mean everything, he finds himself caught between a bright-eyed chorus girl and the wealthy baroness who can bankroll his big break — for a price. As the lights dim and the music swells, Joey’s got a choice to make: play it straight or gamble it all for a shot at the spotlight.
Reintroducing beloved Pal Joey standards like “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” “What is a Man?,” and “I Could Write a Book,” the score for Chez Joey expands to include favorites from the 1957 film adaptation, such as “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” and “The Lady Is a Tramp.” Rodgers and Hart fans can also expect classics like “My Funny Valentine,” “This Can’t Be Love,” and “I Wish I Were in Love Again,” among others.
The full cast and creative team will be announced at a later date.
Chez Joey runs January 30-March 15, 2026, in the Kreeger Theater at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, 1101 Sixth St SW, Washington, DC. Tickets are available at arenastage.org. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at 202-488-3300, Tuesday–Sunday, 12–8PM, or in person at the Arena box office Tuesday–Sunday, two hours before the show begins on performance days.
Tickets start at $83. Ticket prices and availability are subject to change. Arena Stage’s many savings programs include “pay your age” tickets for those aged 35 and under; military, first responder, and educator discounts; student discounts; and “Southwest Nights” for those living and working in the District’s Southwest neighborhood. To learn more, visit arenastage.org/savings-programs.
Groups of 10+ may purchase tickets at arenastage.org/groups or by phone at 202-488-4380.
For complete Arena Stage 2025/26 Season details, visit arenastage.org/75.
ABOUT MYLES FROST
Myles Frost is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actor, and music producer. In 2022, he became the youngest solo actor in history to win the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance as MJ in MJ the Musical. Myles was also nominated for a Grammy Award as principal vocalist on the MJ The Musical cast album. In 2024, Myles made his major motion picture debut in the role of Trayvon Martin in the biographical drama film Origin. Myles was recently nominated for a 2025 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his revised role as MJ in MJ the Musical UK. Among his numerous accolades, Myles proudly received the 76th Annual Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut Performance, the 2022 Chita Rivera Award, and recognition as a nominee for the 2022 Drama League Award, 2022 Drama Desk Award, and 2022 Outer Critics Circle Award. He has been celebrated as part of Variety’s 2022 Power of Young Hollywood Impact Report, Ebony’s 2022 Power 100 List, The Root’s 2022 100 Most Influential Black Americans, the 2022 HBCU Top 30 Under 30, and the NAACP Theatre Spirit Award. At just 26, Myles Frost continues to defy expectations as a self-trained artist, actor, and musician.
ABOUT ARENA STAGE
The first racially integrated theater in our nation’s capital and a pioneer of the regional theater movement, Arena Stage was founded in 1950 in Washington, DC. Today, under the leadership of Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif and Executive Producer Edgar Dobie, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater is a national center dedicated to American voices and artists. Arena produces plays of all that is passionate, profound, deep, and dangerous in the American spirit, and presents diverse and groundbreaking work from some of the best artists around the country. Consistently contributing to the American theatrical lexicon by commissioning and developing new plays, Arena Stage impacts the lives of over 10,000 students annually through its work in community engagement and serves a diverse annual audience of more than 300,000.
