Bio

In May 1970, the Roderick's welcomed their third child, and only son into the world. Needless to say, I got lots of attention from my parents, two

teenage sisters, and extended family. And because of the attention, and being the "baby", I'm fairly sure I was destined to turn into an actor. Many kids pretend, and perform for their families, and I was no exception. But I caught the "bug" when I was seven years old, when the high school needed a Tiny Tim for their production of Scrooge. There were two of us "Tims", but my little seven-year-old ego was stroked when the cast secretly told me I was "the best one." Ha-ha. Well, I was in love.

But that love would have to wait, because neither my parents, nor myself had the realization that community theaters are always looking for kids for their productions. So the rest of my childhood was spent yearning for that freshman year in high school when I would be able to do the school play. Until then, I blissfully spent my years playing with Darth Vader and Chewbacca, swimming, Atari, and generally leading a Huck Finn existence a few miles from the banks of the mighty Mississippi.

By my sophomore year in high school, I had discovered community theater, and I felt like quite the pro. Professors like Dr. Richard Reney, Delaine Schlemeier, Sandra Bothe, and Tom Moon encouraged me and by my senior year, I had several shows under my belt, acting as well as choreographing. I spent two years at that junior college, partly because I wasn't quite ready to leave the nest yet, and partly because I could get my liberal arts classes out of the way essentially for FREE. So after two years and an Associates Degree, I transferred to Southwest Missouri State University's Theater and Dance Department where I was able to take theater and dance classes almost exclusively. SMSU, has since changed its name to MSU. With some excellent teachers like Cheryl Miller, Jack Parkhurst, Dr. Robert Bradley, Howard Orms, and Ken Skrzesz, I was ready to go out and spread my wings after graduation in 1992.

A fortuitous step found me in Branson, Missouri for a year and a half after graduation kicking it up as a backup dancer/singer for country music legend Mel Tillis. It was at the beginning of the great Branson Boom, and it was the perfect way to sock away some cash for my move to New York, and to have a good quality of life. In fact, several of my fellow performers settled there and raised a family.

At the end of February 1994, three months shy of two years in Branson, and a little over two months before my 24th birthday, I moved to New York City - scared to death and knowing not a soul.

But I got my first acting job a mere month and a half later, playing A-Rab in West Side Story at Gateway Playhouse on Long Island. I remained non-union for another two years, paying my dues, working hard, and having a great time. I joined Actor's Equity Association in June 1996, after a non-union tour of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers was brought into an Equity house.

Since then, my career has continued on a steady and exciting climb. I got my first Broadway National Tour, Parade, in 2000. And made my Broadway debut in the 7 time Tony Award winning production of South Pacific on June 24, 2008. I always count myself lucky that I can do what I love to do.

I currently live just south of Lincoln Center on the border of Manhattan's Upper West Side, and Hell's Kitchen.

Biography