Summary
AfterStar Trek: Strange New Worlds' first-ever musical episode,Star Trekhas a perfect line-up of actors to incorporate more musical theater-like performances into its stories. ThroughoutStar Trek’slong history, many of the franchise’s stars have dabbled in creating music, including Willliam Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.Still, musical theater is an entirely different ball game, requiring not only skills in singing but also in dancing and choreography. TheStar Trek: Strange New Worldsmusical episode, “Subspace Rhapsody,” proved that theStar Trekfranchise can boldly go just about anywhere, including, possibly, Broadway.
While the stars ofStrange New Worldsdisplayed their obvious musical talent, many otherStar Trekactors have experience in musical theater, as well. Few of these actors outside ofStrange New Worldshave gotten to sing within theStar Trekfranchise, but they have achieved their own level of fame in the Broadway and musical theater community.With appearances in iconic Broadway shows such asRent, Hamilton,andHadestown, these stars would undoubtedly shine in aStar Trekmusical.Strange New Worlds’musical episodealready proved thatStar Trek’swriting staff are more than capable of writing a musical that still undeniably feels likeTrek.
“We Should Take It To Broadway”: Strange New Worlds Cast & Producers Deep Dive Into Star Trek’s Musical Episode
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10Anthony Rapp
Commander Paul Stamets on Star Trek: Discovery
Anthony Rapp portrayed Paul Stamets inall five seasons ofStar Trek: Discovery,during which time he helped Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery out of many scrapes.A brilliant scientist, Stamets warmed up asDiscoveryprogressed, thanks in no small part to his lovely relationship with his husband, Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz).
Stamets was partially responsible for developing the spore drive technology that allowed the USS Discovery to travel to new locations instantaneously.
Despite having an extensive career in musical theater, Anthony Rapp didn’t get to sing as Commander Stamets onStar Trek: Discovery.Rapp has been involved with musical theater since he was a child but is most known for starring as Mark Cohen in the Broadway musicalRent,as well as the film adaptation. Rapp has popped up in numerous off-Broadway musicals and appeared inIf/Thenon Broadway alongside Idina Menzel.
9Wilson Cruz
Dr. Hugh Culber on Star Trek: Discovery
Wilson Cruz’s Dr. Hugh Culber went on quite the journey over the course ofStar Trek: Discovery’sfive seasons, not only growing as a person but also dying and coming back to life.Culber was the Chief Medical Officer and ship’s Counselor on the USS Discovery,helping the crew deal with the transition from the 23rd century to the 32nd. Culber got a chance to shine inStar Trek:Discoveryseason 5, as he went through a spiritual awakening of sorts.
Wilson Cruz joined the cast ofRenton Broadway, which is where he first met hisDiscoveryonscreen husband, Anthony Rapp.Cruz also starred as Michael in the national tour ofTick, Tick…BOOM!,the autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson. Cruz began his television career playing Rickie Vasquez in the cult classic TV seriesMy So-Called Life,and went on to appear in numerous films and television shows.
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8Isa Briones
Soji, Dahj, Sutra, and Kore Soong in Star Trek: Picard
InStar Trek: Picardseason 1, Isa Briones portrayed twins Dahj and Soji Asha.Dahj and Soji were unaware that they were androids who had been created using a single positronic neuron from the brain of Lt. Commander Data(Brent Spiner). Briones returned inStar Trek:Picardseason 2 as Kore Soong, a clone created by Adam Soong (Brent Spiner), the ancestor of Data’s creator, Dr. Noonien Soong.
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Star Trek: Picard’s youngest cast member, Isa Briones, was challenged with embodying four different characters: androids and a human clone.
Isa Briones has been performing in musicals since she was a child. In 2018,she became the youngest person to join the first national touring company of Lin-Manuel Miranda’smega-hitHamilton,portraying both Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds.Briones also understudied for the role of Eliza Hamilton. In May 2024, Briones joined the cast ofHadestownon Broadway as Eurydice, alongside her father, Jon Jon Briones, as Hermes.
Jon Jon Briones also had a minor role inStar Trek: Picardseason 2 as a Confederation Magistrate.
7Celia Rose Gooding
Ensign Nyota Uhura in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Considering her stellar performance inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds’musical, it’s no surprise that Celia Rose Gooding has an impressive musical theater history.Gooding landed the role of Frankie Healy inJagged Little Pillwhen she was only 17 years old.Based on the music of Alanis Morissette,Jagged Little Pilltransferred to Broadway in November 2019 and earned Gooding a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
Celia Rose Gooding’s mother, LaChanze, also acts and sings and has an extensive musical theater career. In 2006, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her role as Celie Harris Johnson inThe Color Purple.
InStar Trek: Strange New Worlds,Celia Rose Gooding bringsnew life to the character of Nyota Uhura, which was originated by Nichelle Nichols onStar Trek: The Original Series.Strange New Worldshas allowed Uhura to be a more active character than she was onTOS,and the young ensign has saved the Starship Enterprise on multiple occasions. Nichelle Nichols also sang as Uhura fairly regularly onTOS, establishing the character’s love of music.
6Christina Chong
Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
As Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh, Christina Chong got the opportunity to show off her incredible voice inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds’musical episode. In part because of her traumatic past and the loss of her family,La’an keeps her emotions under lock and key, rarely letting anyone in.As the descendent of the notorious tyrant, Khan Noonien-Singh (Ricardo Montalbán), it’s no surprise La’an has had to develop a thick skin.
After graduating from the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, Christina Chong began her entertainment career in dance, andone of her first roles was in a German production of Elton John’s musicalAida.Unfortunately, a hamstring injury put her dancing career on hold, so she turned to television.Chong has continued to pursue musicas well, and in 2023, she released an EP of original music entitledTwin Flames.
Every Song In Strange New Worlds' Musical Episode, Ranked Worst To Best
The Star Trek: Strange New Worlds musical episode, “Subspace Rhapsody,” includes nine original songs. Here they are, ranked worst to best.
5Carol Kane
Commander Pelia in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Carol Kane joined the cast ofStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2 asChief Engineer Commander Pelia. A member of the Lanthanite species,Pelia has an extremely long lifespan and taught at Starfleet Academy before joining the crew of the USS Enterprise.Pelia loves art and history and has amassed a large collection of artifacts from all over the galaxy.
Carol Kane’s impressive career began in the 1970s, and one of her earliest roles, in the 1975 filmHester Street, earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.Kane originated the role of Betty Chumley in the 2012 Broadway production ofHarveyand portrayed the evil headmistress Madame Morrible in the beloved Broadway musicalWicked.
4Dawnn Lewis
Captain Carol Freeman in Star Trek: Lower Decks
If anyStar Trekshow other thanStrange New Worldscould pull off a musical,Star Trek: Lower Decksabsolutely could. Not only does Dawnn Lewis, who voices Captain Carol Freeman, have musical theater experience, butLt. Beckett Mariner actorTawny Newsomeis also a singer.As the Captain of the USS Cerritos, Freeman has to put up with a lot of wild shenanigans,but she cares deeply about her crew.
Dawnn Lewis has been singing since she was a child, and she officially began her musical theater career in 1985 performing as Dulcie in the National Tour of the Broadway musicalThe Tap Dance Kid.Lewis also appeared in Peter Schneider’sSister Act the Musical,the film adaptation ofDreamgirls,andThe Wizwith New York City Center’s Encores!.In 2019, she originated the role of Zelma, Tina Turner’s mother in the musicalTinaon Broadway.
3Daveed Diggs
Commander Tysess in Star Trek: Prodigy
The Andorian Commander Tysess served as First Officer under Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) aboard the USS Dauntless and the USS Voyager-A inStar Trek: Prodigy.Tysess was willing to stand up to Janeway if he believed her judgment to be compromised,but he was also willing to defy orders from Starfleet Command if he believed it was the right thing to do.
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Although he never got to show off his singing (or rapping) skills, Daveed Diggs voiced Tysess in both seasons ofStar Trek:Prodigy.Diggs is best known for originating the roles of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the Broadway production ofHamilton,which earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in 2016. Diggs performs with several hip-hop and rap groups, and performed in Disney’sZootopiaand the live-action adaptation ofThe Little Mermaid.
2Scott Bakula
Captain Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise
Scott Bakula may be most known for his starring roles inStar Trek: EnterpriseandQuantum Leap, but he actually began his career in musical theater. As Captain of the Enterprise NX-01,Archer was one of the first humans to set out on a mission of exploration to explore the galaxy.He initiated First Contact with numerous alien species and helped pave the way for theUnited Federation of Planets.
Bakula began his musical career in 1977, in a touring production of the musicalShenandoah.He originated the role of Joe DiMaggio in the short-lived Broadway production ofMarilyn, and the roles of Alfred Von Wilmers and Sam inRomance/Romance.He has also appeared in several off-Broadway productions, as well as numerous films and television shows.
1Jerry O’Connell & Rebecca Romijn
Commander Jack Ransom in Star Trek: Lower Decks & Una Chin-Riley (aka Number One) in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Star Trekpower couple Jerry O’Connell and Rebecca Romijn have both participated in musical theater throughout their careers.O’Connell has not yet gotten to sing as Commander Jack Ransom onStar Trek: Lower Decks,butRebecca Romijn’s Number Onehad two musical numbers inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds’musical episode.Although their characters have not met, Ransom did refer to Una as the"hottest First Officer in Starfleet history."
Rebecca Romijn has recorded music, andshe made her professional musical debut in 2012 as Ulla inThe Producersat The Hollywood Bowl.Jerry O’Connell has appeared in three Broadway productions, although none of them were musicals. He did, however, portray Lank Hawkins in the concert version of the musicalCrazy For You.TheStar Trekfranchise has always attracted actors of the highest caliber and includes many stars with histories in musical theater.
