Louis Hobson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alma mater | Pacific Lutheran University[1] |
| Occupation(s) | actor, artistic director[2] |
| Employer | Indie Theatricals[3] |
Louis Hobson is a musical theater actor and was the artistic director of Balagan Theatre in Seattle, Washington.[2] His Broadway credits include Next to Normal and Bonnie & Clyde.[4]
Hobson grew up in Puyallup, Washington, and attended Pacific Lutheran University, where he majored in theater after switching from music education. He is married and has children. [1][5]
Hobson spent the first part of his career in Seattle's theater scene, acting at the Village Theatre, 5th Avenue Theatre and others.[5] He played leading roles in productions of West Side Story, Miss Saigon, Evita, and Hair. In 2002, he portrayed Dan in a Seattle reading of Next to Normal.[1]
In the fall of 2008, Hobson moved to New York City "to work with great actors and great directors"[1] and was cast as the two doctors in the Broadway production of Next to Normal, roles he played for the duration of the show's 22-month run.[2] After Next to Normal closed in 2011, Hobson appeared in supporting roles in three short-lived[2] Broadway musicals: The People in the Picture (2011), Bonnie & Clyde (2011), and Leap of Faith (2012).[4] He then worked briefly on producing musicals and readings in New York City.[5]
In 2013, Hobson returned to Seattle to become artistic director of Balagan Theatre. He starred as Jean Valjean in Balagan's 2013 production of Les Misérables[2] and directed Tony Award winner and former Next to Normal co-star Alice Ripley in an October 2013 production of Carrie.[5] Hobson left Balagan Theatre to co-found a for-profit theatrical producing group with former Balagan executive director Jake Groshong. Balagan subsequently closed due to revenue issues.[3]
In March, 2023, Hobson appeared in Into the Woods at the 5th Avenue Theatre, in Seattle, Washington.[6]