Wikipedia

Casey Likes

Casey Likes (born December 25, 2001) is an American actor. He is known for playing Marty McFly in the 2023 Broadway production of Back to the Future: The Musical at the Winter Garden Theatre and originating the role of William Miller in the musical theatre adaptation of the film Almost Famous in 2019 in San Diego and then on Broadway in 2022.[1] From 2025 to 2026, he starred as J. D. in the off-Broadway revival of Heathers at New World Stages.

Casey Likes
Born (2001-12-25) December 25, 2001 (age 24)
Chandler, Arizona, U.S.
EducationChandler High School
OccupationActor
Years active2010–present

Early life

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Likes was raised in Chandler, Arizona.[2] His mother, Stephanie Likes, is also an actor and appeared in Les Misérables on Broadway and on a national tour.[citation needed][3][4]

Likes performed in school and community theatre in and around his hometown.[2] He attended Chandler High School where, in 2019, he starred as Jean Valjean in the school's production of Les Misérables, winning Best Lead Male at the 2019 ASU Gammage High School Musical Theatre Awards.[5] As a result, Likes was a contestant in that year's Jimmy Awards in New York City where he was selected as one of the eight finalists.[6]

Career

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His first professional stage role was William Miller in the musical Almost Famous at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California.[7] The production ran from September to October 2019.[8] When it transferred to Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre from November 2022 to January 2023, Likes again played William Miller,[9] garnering a 2023 Theatre World Award.[10] He appears on the cast recording.[11]

Between his two runs in Almost Famous, Likes appeared in season 2 of Crypt TV's web series The Birch as Brian Moses (2021).[12] In 2021, he wrote, directed and acted in a short film titled Thespians, also starring Sydney Lucas, Andrew Barth Feldman, Rob McClure, and Antonio Cipriano.[13] Likes starred as Richie Shepherd in the MGM horror film Dark Harvest (2023).[14] He also played Gene Simmons, the bassist and co-lead singer of Kiss, in the Neil Bogart biopic Spinning Gold (2023).[15]

Likes starred as Marty McFly in Back to the Future: The Musical at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway from June 2023 until it closed on January 5, 2025.[16][17] For this performance he was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical.[18]

In 2024, he appeared on Eisa Davis and Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical concept album Warriors. He sang the role of Jesse.[19] He directed and starred as Melchior Gabor in a production of Spring Awakening at Greasepaint Youtheatre in Scottsdale, Arizona, from April 4 to 13, 2025.[20]

Likes starred as J. D. in the off-Broadway revival of Heathers at New World Stages from June 2025 to April 2026.[21][22]

Filmography

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Film and television

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As an actor
YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Everything Must GoYoung Nick in 1969
2010Cowboys vs. VampiresSteve
2013American BlackoutHank, Jr.TV movie
2015ThrasherlandCarpenterShort film
2018Krampus: OriginsBilly
2021The BirchBrian MosesWeb series, 4 episodes
2021ThespiansMikeShort film; also writer, director and producer
2023Spinning GoldGene Simmons
2023Dark HarvestRichie Shepard
2026 Sheriff Country Paul
As a filmmaker
YearTitleRoleNotes
2020I Got Youwriter, director, producer and cinematographerShort film

Stage

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YearShowRoleTheatreNotes
2019Jimmy AwardsPerformer/Jean ValjeanMinskoff TheatreFinalist
2019Almost FamousWilliam MillerOld Globe TheatrePre-Broadway production
2022The OutsidersPonyboy Curtisn/aWorkshop production
2022–2023Almost FamousWilliam MillerBernard B. Jacobs TheatreBroadway debut
2023–2025Back to the Future: The MusicalMarty McFlyWinter Garden TheatreBroadway
2025Spring AwakeningMelchior GaborGreasepaint TheaterRegional; Also director
2025–2026Heathers: The MusicalJason “J.D.” DeanNew World StagesOff-Broadway
2026NewsiesJack KellyThe MunyRegional

Awards and nominations

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References

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  1. ↑ Scheps, Leigh (August 1, 2023). "Casey Likes on Playing Marty McFly in Back to the Future on Broadway". Broadway Direct. The Nederlander Organization. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Soloski, Alexis (November 29, 2023). "Casey Likes, of Back to the Future, Is on a Roll". NYTimes.com. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Stephanie Likes (Actor): Credits, Bio, News & More". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Stephanie Likes – Broadway Cast & Staff". IBDB. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  5. ↑ Borst, Ellie (June 6, 2019). "Stars of tomorrow shine at ASU Gammage High School Musical Theatre Awards". ASU News.
  6. ↑ "Meet Your 2019 Jimmy Award Winners". Theater Mania. June 25, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  7. ↑ Willman, Chris (October 3, 2019). "Almost Broadway: Cameron Crowe on Adapting 'Almost Famous' as a Stage Musical". Variety Magazine.
  8. ↑ "Almost Famous". The Old Globe. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Almost Famous". PlayBill.
  10. ↑ "Theatre World Award Winners 2023". New York Theater. May 1, 2023.
  11. ↑ Hall, Margaret (April 21, 2023). "Almost Famous Broadway Cast Album Released April 21". PlayBill.
  12. ↑ Noraas, Dana (July 19, 2022). "'Dark Harvest': Release Date, Cast, and Everything We Know So Far About the David Slade Horror Movie". Collider. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  13. ↑ Moynihan, Caitlin (May 27, 2021). "Almost Famous Standout Casey Likes Releases Thespians, Featuring Rob McClure and Young Stage Stars". Broadway.com.
  14. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (June 1, 2021). "Dark Harvest: Casey Likes & E'myri Crutchfield Tapped to Star In MGM Horror Film". Deadline.
  15. ↑ Major, Michael (March 23, 2023). "Exclusive: Watch Jeremy Jordan & Casey Likes in Spinning Gold Clip". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  16. ↑ Kennedy, Mark (August 3, 2023). "Stars of Broadway's Back to the Future musical happily speed into the past". The Newark Advocate. Retrieved May 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ Hall, Margaret (October 24, 2024). "Back to the Future Sets Final Broadway Ride". Playbill.
  18. 1 2 Culwell-Block, Logan (April 23, 2024). "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards, Wins Best Play; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  19. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan. "Critics Sound Off on Lin-Manuel Miranda, Eisa Davis Musical Concept Album Warriors", Playbill, October 18, 2024
  20. ↑ Hall, Margaret (January 16, 2025). "Casey Likes to Lead Arizona Spring Awakening Revival". Playbill.
  21. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (November 3, 2025). "Heathers Off-Broadway Revival Gets 2nd Extension". Playbill.
  22. ↑ Russo, Gillian (March 12, 2026). "Isabella Esler, John Cardoza, Zan Berube to star in 'Heathers' off Broadway". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, D'Arcy Carden, Jodie Comer, More Are 2023 Theatre World Award Winners". Playbill. May 1, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  24. ↑ Mandell, Jonathan (June 1, 2026). "2026 Dorian Theater Award winners: Schmigadoon. Prince Faggot. Ragtime: Joshua. Junior. Quincy. Qween". New York Theater. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
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