After Star Trek: Strange New Worlds‘ first-ever musical episode, Star Trek has a perfect line-up of actors to incorporate more musical theater-like performances into its stories. Throughout Star Trek’s long 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. The Star Trek: Strange New Worlds musical episode, “Subspace Rhapsody,” proved that the Star Trek franchise can boldly go just about anywhere, including, possibly, Broadway.

While the stars of Strange New Worlds displayed their obvious musical talent, many other Star Trek actors have experience in musical theater, as well. Few of these actors outside of Strange New Worlds have gotten to sing within the Star Trek franchise, but they have achieved their own level of fame in the Broadway and musical theater community. With appearances in iconic Broadway shows such as Rent, Hamilton, and Hadestown, these stars would undoubtedly shine in a Star Trek musical. Strange New Worlds’ musical episode already proved that Star Trek’s writing staff are more than capable of writing a musical that still undeniably feels like Trek.

10

Anthony Rapp

Commander Paul Stamets on Star Trek: Discovery

Anthony Rapp portrayed Paul Stamets in all five seasons of Star 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 as Discovery progressed, thanks in no small part to his lovely relationship with his husband, Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz).

Despite having an extensive career in musical theater, Anthony Rapp didn’t get to sing as Commander Stamets on Star 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 musical Rent, as well as the film adaptation. Rapp has popped up in numerous off-Broadway musicals and appeared in If/Then on Broadway alongside Idina Menzel.

9

Wilson Cruz

Dr. Hugh Culber on Star Trek: Discovery

Wilson Cruz’s Dr. Hugh Culber went on quite the journey over the course of Star Trek: Discovery’s five 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 in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, as he went through a spiritual awakening of sorts.

Wilson Cruz joined the cast of Rent on Broadway, which is where he first met his Discovery onscreen husband, Anthony Rapp. Cruz also starred as Michael in the national tour of Tick, Tick…BOOM!, the autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson. Cruz began his television career playing Rickie Vasquez in the cult classic TV series My So-Called Life, and went on to appear in numerous films and television shows.

8

Isa Briones

Soji, Dahj, Sutra, and Kore Soong in Star Trek: Picard

In Star Trek: Picard season 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 in Star Trek: Picard season 2 as Kore Soong, a clone created by Adam Soong (Brent Spiner), the ancestor of Data’s creator, Dr. Noonien Soong.

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’s mega-hit Hamilton, portraying both Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds. Briones also understudied for the role of Eliza Hamilton. In May 2024, Briones joined the cast of Hadestown on Broadway as Eurydice, alongside her father, Jon Jon Briones, as Hermes.

7

Celia Rose Gooding

Ensign Nyota Uhura in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Considering her stellar performance in Star 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 in Jagged Little Pill when she was only 17 years old. Based on the music of Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill transferred to Broadway in November 2019 and earned Gooding a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Celia Rose Gooding brings new life to the character of Nyota Uhura, which was originated by Nichelle Nichols on Star Trek: The Original Series. Strange New Worlds has allowed Uhura to be a more active character than she was on TOS, and the young ensign has saved the Starship Enterprise on multiple occasions. Nichelle Nichols also sang as Uhura fairly regularly on TOS, establishing the character’s love of music.

6

Christina 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 in Star 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, and one of her first roles was in a German production of Elton John’s musical Aida. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury put her dancing career on hold, so she turned to television. Chong has continued to pursue music as well, and in 2023, she released an EP of original music entitled Twin Flames.

5

Carol Kane

Commander Pelia in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Carol Kane joined the cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 as Chief 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 film Hester Street, earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Kane originated the role of Betty Chumley in the 2012 Broadway production of Harvey and portrayed the evil headmistress Madame Morrible in the beloved Broadway musical Wicked.

4

Dawnn Lewis

Captain Carol Freeman in Star Trek: Lower Decks

If any Star Trek show other than Strange New Worlds could pull off a musical, Star Trek: Lower Decks absolutely could. Not only does Dawnn Lewis, who voices Captain Carol Freeman, have musical theater experience, but Lt. Beckett Mariner actorTawny Newsome is 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 musical The Tap Dance Kid. Lewis also appeared in Peter Schneider’s Sister Act the Musical, the film adaptation of Dreamgirls, and The Wiz with New York City Center’s Encores!. In 2019, she originated the role of Zelma, Tina Turner’s mother in the musical Tina on Broadway.

3

Daveed 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 in Star 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.

Although he never got to show off his singing (or rapping) skills, Daveed Diggs voiced Tysess in both seasons of Star Trek: Prodigy. Diggs is best known for originating the roles of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the Broadway production of Hamilton, which earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in 2016. Diggs performs with several hip-hop and rap groups, and performed in Disney’s Zootopia and the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

2

Scott Bakula

Captain Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise

Scott Bakula may be most known for his starring roles in Star Trek: Enterprise and Quantum 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 the United Federation of Planets.

Bakula began his musical career in 1977, in a touring production of the musical Shenandoah. He originated the role of Joe DiMaggio in the short-lived Broadway production of Marilyn, and the roles of Alfred Von Wilmers and Sam in Romance/Romance. He has also appeared in several off-Broadway productions, as well as numerous films and television shows.

1

Jerry 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 Trek power 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 on Star Trek: Lower Decks, but Rebecca Romijn’s Number One had two musical numbers in Star 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, and she made her professional musical debut in 2012 as Ulla in The Producers at 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 musical Crazy For You. The Star Trek franchise has always attracted actors of the highest caliber and includes many stars with histories in musical theater.