Thayne Jasperson

Ken Ard has originated roles in some of the biggest hit shows in Broadway’s history. Two of which he holds Grammy Award Certifications for best cast album. Macavity in Cats and Ken in Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Other notable roles include ELECTRA in Starlight Express, Pluton in Dangerous Games, and The Chimney Man starring opposite Gregory Hines in Jelly’s Last Jam. Ken was honored to standby for Tony Award winning legend André De Shields in the Musical Half Time at the Papermill Playhouse and was subsequently chosen by Mr. De Shields to lead his multitalented cast in Sophisticated Ladies at NJPAC. In 2021/22 Ken was featured in Taylor Mac’s critically acclaimed limited run sold-out Off Broadway opera, The Hang. The 2023/24 Holiday season saw Ken as Duke Ellington in SugarHill the Ellington/Strayhorn Nut Cracker Suite at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago. Ken most recently starred in a Twisty Intergalactic Spectacle at the Hip Pocket Theater in Fort Worth Texas. A show created with and directed by partner Basil Twist, Ken also appears as Wilbur in the 2001 Academy Award winning film Chicago. Beyond Broadway Ken is a visual artist, an award winning chef, an accomplished jazz singer/ cabaret artist with an affinity for The GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK.