Andrew Barth Feldman’s journey from youth theatre to Broadway

From the stage at Lawrence Woodmere Academy to the Music Box on Broadway, theatre has changed Andrew Barth Feldman’s life.

Feldman, at 22, has accrued quite the theatre resume.

In high school, he won the Jimmy Award for his role as Frank Abagnale Jr., in “Catch Me If You Can.” Months later he booked his Broadway debut as Evan Hansen in “Dear Evan Hansen.” After a four-year hiatus, he is back on the stage as Seymour Krelborn in “Little Shop of Horrors.”

All of this would not be possible without his Five Towns roots and passion for theatre.

Growing up in Hewlett Neck, Feldman recalls going to see his first Broadway show as a toddler. When his parents divorced, his older siblings promised him nothing would change.

“We would go to shows from the time I was three-years old, we saw Beauty and the Beast and I was blown away and obsessed,” Feldman said. “I remember it and my life changing in that moment and knowing that’s what I wanted to do.”

His passion ramped throughout his time in youth theatre and the unconditional love and support of his mother being there every step of the way. Theatre has served as a healthy outlet for him during tough times.

Being apart of theatre at LWA in Woodmere played a huge role in his career and earned him the Jimmy Award. The Jimmy Award is given out to two high school students in recognition of the best performance for musical theatre.

“It was really great because it was this sort of musical sandbox, the theatre program fluctuated a lot,” Feldman said. “In my time there, my mom was a huge part of it and being such a small school I got to have a say in it and the kids of shows we were doing.”

Feldman’s mother, Barbara Feldman who died in 2019 served as head of school for LWA and before that was its camp director. He does everything because of her and takes her values and lessons with him.

“It’s all of the reason I’m successful, what she taught me about theatre is that it’s not stable it’s that there are no expectations,” he said. “That’s all true, but she taught me more about life and how to treat people and generosity as a core value and that it something I work really tirelessly to carry with me every day into every professional environment.”

He attributes his being casted to being a person who leads with empathy and his mother. She was his number one supporter and told him the news of booking “Dear Evan Hansen” while picking him up from musical rehearsal at a youth theatre group.

“I walked outside and got in the car, and my mom who already had a call with my agent while I was in rehearsal had a legal pad in front of her with a list of things that were going to change in my life,” Feldman said. “I was plucked from nothing, I was just one of the kids obsessed with theatre on Long Island, there’s a lot of us.” He continues

“I was pulled from it, and I still finished out everything being a kid and all of a sudden my number one, top of the list dream in every way was coming fully, entirely true. I couldn’t wrap my head around it then, I still can’t.”

Going from ordinary high school student to Broadway star overnight was a sensation Feldman could not wrap his head around. He starred as Evan Hansen for about year January 2019 to January 2020, and in 2023 starred in the movie “No Hard Feelings” with Jennifer Lawrence.

Feldman was extended the offer of playing Seymour Krelmor alongside Sarah Hyland and knew that the timing was right to come back to Broadway.

“Sarah was excited about the idea of doing it with me and we sort of became a package deal when they were looking for who their next Seymour and Audrey were going to be,” he said. “This is a dream job and it’s something that just fell into my lap, I did beg them and I’d work with the producers before and they finally saw it was my time.”

This was truly a full circle moment, as Feldman has been studying and obsessing over this role his whole life. To finally step into Seymour’s shoes has been a lifelong goal of his and now he gets to do so eight shows a week.

Feldman has become more confident the past four years, and now is an adult playing an adult rather than playing a kid, he said.

He is grateful for his time in youth theatre and on stage at LWA. Both have helped him get to where he is today.

“You can learn from and really be inspired by anyone and everyone, comparing yourself is an unhelpful tool,” Feldman said. “It is helpful to look at everyone’s experience and without judgment of yourself or them take what they are doing/not doing and apply it to yourself.”

Feldman is still trying to find the balance between an eight-show week, and living life in his 20s. He knows that no matter the circumstance, the show will go on.

Creativity and collaboration drive Feldman to continue to be good, and have a child-like sense of play. It comes naturally for him, and he knows how to listen to his body.

Every performance is for his mom, and he knows that she is with him and giving her eternal love and support.

“My mom is present in everything that I do, because she left so much of herself in me,” Feldman said. “I do what I can to carry on her kindness and so she’s present everyday.”