Quentin Earl Darrington (born July 9, 1977) is an American actor and singer known for his work in theatre. He has performed in Broadway productions and national tours of shows including Once on This Island, Cats, Ragtime, and Memphis. He originated the role of Joe Jackson / Rob in MJ the Musical on Broadway, receiving a nomination for the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.
Early life Darrington was born in Lakeland, Florida, and he took his first drama class in seventh grade and subsequently applied to and attended an arts high school. He then attended the University of South Florida, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in theatre in 2004.
Career Following graduation, Darrington moved to Indianapolis, Indiana and later to Chicago, Illinois while on tour with the musicals The Lion King, understudying Mufasa, and The Color Purple as Pa.
Throughout his career, Darrington has played the role of Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime several times: first on the 2001 non-equity tour, then in a 2005 production at Paper Mill Playhouse, followed by a production in 2009 at the Kennedy Center, which ultimately transferred to Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre in 2009. He would play the role once more in a production in 2010 at Drury Lane Theatre in Illinois. For the Broadway production, Variety praised Darrington's performance as "a charismatic presence who breathes real authority into his scenes" with praise for his "velvety baritone."
Other notable Broadway credits include the 2016 revival of aCats as Old Deuteronomy, and the 2017 Tony Award-winning revival of Once on This Island as Agwe.
He received his first Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance as Joe Jackson/Rob in the Broadway production of MJ the Musical at the Neil Simon Theatre. Other notable credits include starring as the Phantom in the 2026 Off-Broadway revival of The Phantom of the Opera, titled Masquerade. He is next set to appear in Jennifer Nettles' Off-Broadway musical, Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo in summer 2026 as Cardinale at the Perelman Arts Center.
Personal life Darrington currently resides part-time in Champaign, Illinois and has three sons.
Theatre credits Year Show Role Notes 2001 Ragtime Coalhouse Walker Jr.U.S. national tour 2002The Lion KingEnsembleu/s Mufasa 2003 Chicago, Cadillac Palace Theatre 2005 Ragtime Coalhouse Walker Jr. Regional, Paper Mill Playhouse Abyssinia Lucas (replacement) Regional, Goodspeed Opera House 2007 The Color Purple Ensembleu/s Mister U.S. national tour2009Ragtime Coalhouse Walker Jr. Washington D.C., Kennedy Center Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre 2010 Regional, Drury Lane Theatre 2011 Memphis Delray U.S. national tour 2014 Les Misérables Javert Regional, Drury Lane Theatre 2015 A New Brain Minister Off-Broadway, Off-City Center Encores! 2016 The Secret Garden Major Holmes Manhattan Concert Productions Concert Cats Old Deuteronomy; Victor Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre 2017 Once on This Island Agwe Broadway, Circle in the Square Theatre 2022 MJ the Musical Joe Jackson / Rob Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre2025Three Summers of LincolnFrederick Douglass Regional, La Jolla PlayhouseLa Jolla Playhouse 3 Summers of Lincoln Damn Yankees Joe Boyd Washington D.C., Arena Stage2026The Phantom of the OperaThe Phantom of the OperaOff-Broadway, Masquerade Theatre StudiosGiulia: The Poison Queen of PalermoCardinaleOff-Broadway, Perelman Arts Center
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2022Outer Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Featured Actor in a MusicalMJ: The Musical
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