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Larry Saperstein
Larry Saperstein
Larry Saperstein
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Laurence Benjamin Saperstein (born April 12, 1998[citation needed]) is an American actor and dancer. He stars as Big Red in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Key Information

Life and career

[edit]

Saperstein is from Islip, New York on the south shore of Long Island. He is Jewish.[1] He began dancing at age 6 and was a member of the Tap City Youth Ensemble. He spent several summers at the Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts. He attended Islip High School and was selected as a 2016 Long Island Scholar Artist.[2][3] He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Production and Design for Stage and Screen from Pace University in New York City in 2020.[4]

Saperstein has been acting since he was 3 years old at a community theater with his parents.[5] Larry landed his first role at the age of 6 as Winthrop Paroo in Star Playhouse's production of The Music Man.[6] He has had several theatre roles in Long Island and touring on the West Coast.

Saperstein played Lucius in the 2015 ABC Television film Fan Girl starring Kiernan Shipka.[7]

In February 2019, it was announced Saperstein would star in his breakout onscreen role in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series as Big Red, Ricky Bowen (Joshua Bassett)'s best friend who fills in as the school production's stage manager.[8][9] The series premiered that November. Saperstein was the final main to be cast.

In June 2021, Saperstein came out as bisexual via social media.[10]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2011 Finding Boy Short film
Blindfold Jeremy
We Are the Hartmans
2015 Fan Girl Lucius Television film
2019 Porno Todd
First Wives Club Timmy Episode: "Plan B"
2019–2023 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Big Red Main role (Season 1–2)
Recurring role (Season 4)
Guest star (Season 3)
TBA Gap Year Second Unit Director

Stage

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2007 The Music Man Winthrop Paroo Star Playhouse, Commack
2008 Evita Children's Choir Star Playhouse, Commack
2010 Oliver! Charley Bates John W. Engeman Theater, Northport
2009–2010 Miracle on 34th Street Tommy Mara Jr. West Coast tour
2010 Fiddler on the Roof Ensemble John W. Engeman Theater, Northport
2014 Cats Skimbleshanks Islip Town Hall West, Islip
2016 Clybourne Park Lighting designer; Islip Town Hall West, Islip
2018 Peter and the Starcatcher Lighting Designer Pace University

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Larry Saperstein

View on Grokipedia
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Larry Saperstein (born April 12, 1998) is an American actor, dancer, and director best known for portraying the character Big Red in the Disney+ original series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series from 2019 to 2023. Born and raised in , Saperstein has built a career blending acting, tap dancing, and creative production work, with early training in dance and voice at institutions such as the American Dance Theatre and the American Tap Dance Foundation. Saperstein's breakthrough came with his recurring role as Big Red, a shy aspiring DJ and best friend to the protagonist Ricky Bowen, across all four seasons of the Emmy-nominated series, which reimagines the High School Musical franchise through a mockumentary-style lens focused on high school theater students staging productions. He graduated from Pace University in New York in 2020 with a BFA in Production and Design for Stage and Screen, during which he began exploring acting alongside his design studies. Prior to his Disney+ success, Saperstein appeared in supporting roles in projects including the indie horror film Porno (2019) at SXSW, the BET+ series First Wives Club (Season 1, 2019), and the Freeform film Fan Girl (2015). A professionally trained tap dancer since age 11, Saperstein has performed in regional theater productions such as Oliver!, Miracle on 34th Street, and Fiddler on the Roof, and notably played roles in Beauty and the Beast both as a child (Chip at age 10) and in high school (Lumiere). In addition to acting, he works as a director and creative, launching the online masterclass series Tap With Larry in 2022 to teach tap dancing techniques, and performs monthly in improvisational musical shows at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles. Since 2023, Saperstein has co-hosted the podcast Let’s Talk About That! and appeared in the 2024 holiday panto Rapunzel's Holiday Wish at Laguna Playhouse. Based in Los Angeles as of 2025, Saperstein continues to pursue screenwriting and multifaceted entertainment projects inspired by his Long Island roots and theater background.

Early life and education

Early years

Larry Saperstein was born on April 12, 1998, in Islip, New York. He grew up in Islip within a family immersed in the performing arts, as both of his parents are performers. From a young age, Saperstein was exposed to theater through his family's involvement, fostering his early interest in acting and dance. Saperstein began acting at age three, joining his father onstage in a community theater production of Working at the Islip Art Council. He started dance lessons at age six, which deepened his enthusiasm for performance. Later, he honed his skills in tap dancing as an alumnus of the prestigious Tap City Youth Ensemble and attended the Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts for nine summers, where he explored diverse artistic disciplines and formed lasting connections. His early stage role came at age nine as Winthrop Paroo in The Music Man (2007) at Star Playhouse in Commack, New York. Saperstein attended Islip High School, participating actively in the school's artistic programs, including the Instrumental Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble, and Theatre Arts Club. He graduated in 2016 and was honored as a Scholar Artist that year for his outstanding contributions to theater, music, and acting on stages.

Education and training

Saperstein attended Islip High School in , where he was actively involved in the school's arts programs during his high school years. As a senior, he was selected as a 2016 Long Island Scholar Artist in theater for his expressive performance work, recognizing his contributions to the . He graduated from Islip High School in 2016. Following high school, Saperstein enrolled at Pace University in New York City as a freshman, majoring in Design and Production for the Stage and Screen within the School of Performing Arts. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Production and Design for Stage and Screen in 2020. During his time at Pace, Saperstein focused his coursework on production and design principles while pursuing interests in performing arts, balancing these elements with his emerging acting pursuits. He also began exploring directing as part of his university training. Saperstein received early training in dance and voice at institutions such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and the American Tap Dance Foundation. Saperstein's graduation in 2020 coincided with the early stages of his professional career buildup, including his as a student in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Professional career

Early theater roles

Saperstein began his professional theater career as a child performer in regional productions on . In 2007, at age nine, he portrayed Winthrop Paroo, the shy younger brother of the lead character, in a production of at Star Playhouse in . The following year, he appeared as a member of the Children's Chorus in Evita at the same venue, contributing to the ensemble vocals in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical about . By his early preteens, Saperstein expanded into touring work. From 2009 to 2010, he played Tommy Mara Jr., the young son in a family central to the holiday narrative, during the West Coast tour of , a musical adaptation of the classic story. In 2010, he took on the role of , the resourceful pickpocket and friend to the titular , in a production of Oliver! at the John W. Engeman Theater in , marking his first credited lead supporting role in a professional musical. That same year, he performed as an ensemble member in at the Engeman Theater, supporting the story of and his in the Russian village of Anatevka. As a mid-teen, Saperstein continued in local theater while developing technical skills. In 2014, he starred as , the railway cat who maintains order on the Night Train, in a production of Cats at Islip West in . This role highlighted his growing versatility in ensemble-driven musicals based on T.S. Eliot's poetry. During his college years at , Saperstein transitioned toward behind-the-scenes contributions, blending his background with design expertise. In 2016, he served as er for , a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Bruce Norris exploring racial dynamics in a neighborhood, produced at Islip West. In 2018, while studying production and design, he again took on duties for , a prequel to Peter Pan emphasizing adventure and origins, in a student production at . These early design credits reflected Saperstein's evolution from onstage child roles to multifaceted theater involvement before his breakthrough in screen work in 2019.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

In February 2019, Larry Saperstein was announced as part of the main cast for the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, portraying the character Big Red, the quirky best friend of Ricky Bowen and an aspiring . The series, created by , premiered on November 8, 2019, and ran for four seasons until 2023, following a group of high school students staging productions inspired by the original High School Musical films. Saperstein appeared as a main cast member in seasons 1 and 2, transitioned to a guest role in season 3 where Big Red was sidelined working at a local pizza shop, and returned in a recurring capacity for season 4. Big Red begins as comic relief, providing humorous support to Ricky amid the school's theatrical endeavors, but his arc evolves to emphasize personal growth, romantic relationships, and self-discovery. Over the series, the character navigates his budding romance with Ashlyn Caswell, explores his passion for music through DJing, and confronts his sexuality, culminating in coming out as bisexual during a season 3 documentary segment that surprises but ultimately supports his friends. This development adds depth to Big Red's journey from a peripheral sidekick to a figure grappling with identity and relationships, reflecting themes of inclusivity central to the show's revival of the High School Musical franchise. Saperstein's portrayal marked his breakout television role, earning him widespread recognition and contributing to the series' success in reintroducing the franchise to a new generation via Disney+. The show, filmed primarily at East High School in , —the same location used for the original films—integrated Saperstein's background in tap dancing, including a notable sequence in the season 1 finale where he performed after advocating for its inclusion despite initial plans otherwise. On set, Saperstein shared experiences like bonding with the cast during games in and quickly learning a group dance number in just one hour following a co-star's injury, highlighting the collaborative and improvisational energy of production.

Other acting projects

Saperstein began his screen acting career with small roles in independent short films during his early teenage years. In 2011, he provided the voice for the character Boy in the short film Finding, directed by Max S. Pham. That same year, he appeared as Jeremy in the short Blindfold, a drama about a young girl subpoenaed over a school presentation on 9/11, directed by Teace Snyder. Additionally, Saperstein had an uncredited role in the feature film We Are the Hartmans, a comedy-drama about a dysfunctional family, as noted in early profiles of his work. Building on these initial experiences, Saperstein took on more prominent supporting parts in the mid-2010s. He portrayed Lucius, a quirky fanboy, in the 2015 Freeform television film Fan Girl, starring Kiernan Shipka as a teenage girl obsessed with a pop star; the movie explores themes of celebrity culture and adolescence. In 2019, coinciding with the launch of his breakout Disney+ series, Saperstein appeared in two notable projects. He played Timmy, a brief guest role in the episode "Plan B" of BET+'s First Wives Club reboot, a comedy series about divorced women navigating life and revenge. Later that year, he starred as Todd, one of the virginal teen protagonists in the horror-comedy Porno, directed by Keola Racela, which premiered at SXSW and follows movie theater employees encountering a demonic entity through an old film reel. Following the success of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Saperstein continued screen acting with a role as Scott in the thriller The Lady of the Lake (2024), directed by Maria Capp and released on August 27, 2024, which draws on Native American folklore about a grief-stricken woman investigating a legend after her brother's death. As of November 2025, he has focused on select acting projects alongside other creative endeavors such as directing and podcasting.

Additional pursuits

Dance work

Larry Saperstein began his dance training at the age of six, inspired by a family outing to see the Broadway production of 42nd Street, which sparked his enthusiasm for tap, , , and . He received early training at the American Dance Theatre. As a youth, he joined the prestigious Tap City Youth Ensemble in , where he trained intensively for six years under renowned tap masters including Brenda Bufalino and Sarah Reich. His early involvement in the ensemble, alongside studies at the American Tap Dance Foundation starting around age 11 or 12, solidified his specialization in . Saperstein's tap expertise influenced his approach to roles that incorporated dance elements. He integrated tap prominently into his performance as Big Red in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, where tap sequences were added to episodes despite not being part of the original character concept, allowing him to showcase his background in the final scene of season one and beyond. Post-series, Saperstein has pursued occasional tap performances and led workshops, describing himself as a multi-talented entertainer with a strong focus on dance. In November 2025, he taught a guest lesson on tap dancing to students at a theater program. In 2022, Saperstein launched the online masterclass series "Tap With Larry," offering foundational tap instruction to beginners and theater enthusiasts, with new 10-week courses continuing into 2024. As of November 2025, he maintains tap dancing as an active pursuit for skill enhancement and teaching, without involvement in major standalone dance productions.

Directing and design

Saperstein earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis on production and design for stage and screen from Pace University's School of Performing Arts in 2020. His academic training provided a foundation in technical aspects of theater, including lighting and projection design, which he began applying during his studies. Early in his career, Saperstein worked as a lighting designer on community theater productions. In 2016, he served as lighting designer, alongside Rodrigo Escalante, for a production of Clybourne Park presented at Islip Town Hall West in . This role allowed him to integrate his interests in design and theater, marking one of his initial professional credits in the field. By 2018, as a student at , he advanced to lighting designer for Peter and the Starcatcher, a campus production directed by Amanda Connors, where he collaborated with a team including set designer Colleen O'Brien and costume designer Sophie Stratyner. Saperstein has identified as a director and pursued opportunities in that capacity alongside his design work. In 2015, he directed the short film Work and Art, a project exploring themes of balance and moderation in life. On the set of the 2019 short film Gap Year, he contributed as second second assistant director, gaining hands-on experience in film production logistics. These ventures reflect his multifaceted involvement in creative processes. Following his graduation, Saperstein shifted focus toward behind-the-scenes roles while maintaining his commitments, including exploring to tell personal stories. This evolution underscores his commitment to production and design as complementary pursuits to his on-screen career.

References

  1. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2220235-larry-saperstein
  2. https://dmedmedia.disney.com/disney-plus/high-school-musical
  3. https://tmrwmagazine.com/news/larry-saperstein-is-living-his-dream
  4. https://www.larrysaperstein.com/
  5. https://news.disney.com/get-to-know-high-school-musical-series
  6. https://lagunaplayhouse.com/2024-2025-special-performances/panto-rapunzels-holiday-wish-a-hair-larious-tangled-tale/
  7. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4116656/
  8. https://aclassactny.com/profile/larry-saperstein/
  9. https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/hsmtmts_larrysaperstein_bio_2135d71b.pdf
  10. https://www.usdan.org/blog/whats-new-u-february-2025
  11. https://www.starplayhouse.com/music_man1.html
  12. https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/91401-the-music-man-at-suffolk-y-jcc-november-3-18-2007
  13. https://outfrontmagazine.com/hsm-star-larry-saperstein-on-living-his-bisexual-truth/
  14. https://www.newsday.com/services/programs/long-island-arts-alliance/long-island-scholar-artists-2015-16-winners-y71079
  15. https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/celebrities/larry-saperstein-high-school-musical-bisexual-o12321
  16. https://1883magazine.com/larry-saperstein/
  17. https://www.facebook.com/paceuniversity/posts/get-ready-for-some-major-nostalgia-feels-paceu-student-larry-saperstein-has-been/10155879894162341/
  18. https://www.starplayhouse.com/evita1.html
  19. https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/a-star-search-for-li-s-most-talented-kids-x13340
  20. https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/29807-fiddler-on-the-roof-at-the-john-w-engeman-theater-at-northport-april-29-june-20-2010
  21. https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/92798-cats-at-islip-town-hall-west-november-16-23-2014
  22. https://www.scribd.com/document/336965307/Clybourne-Park-Packet
  23. https://www.amandaconnors.com/peter-and-the-starcatcher-pace
  24. https://deadline.com/2019/02/high-school-musical-disney-cast-starts-production-streaming-series-reboot-1202558398/
  25. https://dmedmedia.disney.com/news/dtci-disney-plus-hsmtmts-s2
  26. https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a40754722/high-school-musical-season-3-big-red-seb-missing/
  27. https://www.thewrap.com/high-school-musical-the-musical-the-series-end-with-season-4-disney-plus/
  28. https://www.out.com/television/2022/9/15/another-hsmtmts-character-came-out-during-season-3-finale
  29. https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/television/2022/07/25/hsmtmts-season-3-review/10014316002/
  30. https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2023/08/06/high-school-musical-musical-series/
  31. https://collider.com/high-school-musical-the-musical-the-series-cast-interview/
  32. https://www.distractify.com/p/larry-saperstein-tap-dancing
  33. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1773423/
  34. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740084/
  35. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9124192/
  36. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8485772/
  37. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13782340/
  38. https://www.tapwithlarry.com/
  39. https://dancespirit.com/larry-saperstein-tap/
  40. https://www.instagram.com/p/DQsTYhzDb_u/
  41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E34Pih6LZeM
  42. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10195756/fullcredits/
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