Joy Woods
Joy Woods | |
|---|---|
Woods performing in the Majestic Theatre in 2025 | |
| Born | December 8, 1999 Chicago, Illinois |
| Education | American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2019–present |
Joy Woods (born 1999)[1] is an American actress and singer. She is known for her work on Broadway, having starred in Six, The Notebook, and Gypsy, the latter for which she was nominated for a Tony Award and a Grammy Award.
Early life and education
Woods grew up in Chicago as the youngest of six siblings.[2][3] Music was a large part of the family; her siblings were musicians and her mother was a dancer. Woods started formal dance training in middle school.[3]
In 2018, Woods graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School.[4] She moved to New York City to study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, graduating in 2019.[3][5]
Career
Woods made her off-Broadway debut in the 2019 revival of Little Shop of Horrors as Chiffon and understudy for Audrey and Ronnette.[6] In February 2020, she starred in the ensemble of the New York City Center Encores! concert production of Mack and Mabel.[7]
In 2021, she featured in the virtual Ratatouille: the TikTok Musical.[8]
On March 14, 2022, Woods made her Broadway debut as Catherine Parr in Six.[9]
In September and October 2022, Woods starred as Middle Allie in The Notebook at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.[10] She then played Deena Jones in North Carolina Theatre's production of Dreamgirls in February 2023.[11]
On May 2, 2023, Woods returned to Little Shop of Horrors, this time in the lead role of Audrey. In doing so, she became the first Black woman to play the role off-Broadway.[12] In late 2023, she starred as Martha Mills in I Can Get It for You Wholesale at Classic Stage Company.[13][14]
Woods reprised her role in the Broadway transfer of The Notebook, which opened on March 14, 2024. Her performance of the show's 11 o'clock number, "My Days" on Instagram gained over 3 million views.[15] She left the production on October 20, 2024, being replaced by Aisha Jackson.[16]
Woods starred as Louise in the 2024 Broadway revival of Gypsy at the refurbished Majestic Theatre opposite Audra McDonald. Woods is the first black woman to play this role on Broadway.[2] She starred alongside her The Notebook co-star Jordan Tyson.[17] The production opened on December 19. For her performance, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.[18] It was announced that Woods would star as Sarah in the New York City Center gala production of Ragtime, but she withdrew to star in Gypsy. The role was instead played by Nichelle Lewis.[19]
On 21 September 2025, Woods was part of the cast of the 30th anniversary concert of Songs of a New World at the Eventim Apollo in London. Woods joined Shoshana Bean, Titus Burgess and Jordan Fisher, with Jason Robert Brown directing and playing piano and keyboard during the performances.[20]
Personal life
Woods identifies as gay, though she "dabble[s] in men every now and then."[21]
Stage credits
| Year | Show | Role | Theatre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | Little Shop of Horrors | Chiffon, u/s Audrey/Ronnette | Westside Theatre | Off-Broadway |
| 2020 | Mack and Mabel | Ensemble | New York City Center | Encores! |
| 2021-2022 | Little Shop of Horrors | Chiffon, u/s Audrey/Ronnette | Westside Theatre | Off-Broadway |
| 2022 | Six | Catherine Parr | Lena Horne Theatre | Broadway |
| The Notebook | Middle Allie | Chicago Shakespeare Theatre | Regional | |
| 2023 | Dreamgirls | Deena Jones | North Carolina Theatre | |
| Little Shop of Horrors | Audrey | Westside Theatre | Off-Broadway | |
| I Can Get It For You Wholesale | Martha Mills | Classic Stage Company | ||
| 2024 | The Notebook | Middle Allie | Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre | Broadway |
| 2024–2025 | Gypsy | Louise Hovick | Majestic Theatre | |
| 2025 | Trisha Paytas' Big Broadway Dream! | Broadway | St. James Theatre | |
| Songs for a New World | Woman #1 | Hammersmith Apollo | 30th Anniversary Concert | |
| 2025–2026 | Little Shop of Horrors | Audrey | Westside Theatre | Off-Broadway |
| 2026 | Galileo | TBA | Shubert Theatre[22] | Broadway |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Gypsy | Nominated | |
| Tony Awards | Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated | |||
| 2026 | Grammy Awards | Best Musical Theater Album | Nominated | [23] |
References
- ^ Fallon, Kevin (April 29, 2025). "'Gypsy' Star Joy Woods: The Show-Stopping Striptease That Could Make History". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
I was born in '99
- ^ a b Quinn, Dave (May 12, 2025). "Joy Woods Pushes Past the Pressures of Being Broadway's First Black Gypsy: 'I'm Just the Next' (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c Vizcaíno, Jeffrey (December 9, 2024). "In Gypsy, Joy Woods Is Stepping Into Her Power". Playbill. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ "Joy Woods' Broadway performance nominated for Tony Award". Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ "AMDA Alumni Newsletter - May 5, 2023". American Musical and Dramatic Academy. May 5, 2023. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "Little Shop of Horrors". www.iobdb.com. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "Mack & Mabel". www.nycitycenter.org. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Moss, Lucy (January 1, 2021), Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical (Comedy, Family, Musical), Wayne Brady, Tituss Burgess, Kevin Chamberlin, Seaview Productions, TikTok, TodayTix, retrieved September 25, 2024
- ^ "Joy Woods – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". ibdb.com. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "The Notebook". Chicago Shakespeare Theater. January 19, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "Dreamgirls - Raleigh Memorial Auditorium Raleigh, NC - Tickets, information, reviews". raleigh-theater.com. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Russo, Gillian (April 4, 2023). "Joy Woods to star as Audrey in 'Little Shop of Horrors' off Broadway". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "I Can Get It For You Wholesale – Classic Stage Company". Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "Joy Woods". www.iobdb.com. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Hall, Margaret (May 22, 2024). "Watch: See Joy Woods Perform 'My Days' from The Notebook The Musical in New Onstage Video". Playbill.
- ^ "Aisha Jackson to Take Over as Middle Allie in The Notebook - TheaterMania.com". September 24, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Evans, Greg (September 24, 2024). "Broadway 'Gypsy' Casts 'The Notebook's Joy Woods & Jordan Tyson As Louise & June". Deadline. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca (May 1, 2025). "Tony Nominations 2025: 'Death Becomes Her,' 'Maybe Happy Ending' and 'Buena Vista Social Club' Lead". Variety. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ King, Darryn. "The Wiz's Nichelle Lewis Joins Ragtime as Sarah, Replacing Joaquina Kalukango". Broadway.com.
- ^ "Jordan Fisher, Joy Woods, Shoshana Bean and Titus Burgess set for Songs for a New World concert". July 25, 2025. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
- ^ Fank, Jason P. (December 13, 2024). "Everything's Coming Up Joy Woods". Vulture. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan Galileo Musical Is Coming to Broadway With Raúl Esparza, Joy Woods, Jeremy Kushnier Playbill, February 10, 2026
- ^ Faulkner, Clara (November 7, 2025). "2026 GRAMMYS: See The Full Nominations List". Grammy.com.