Rufus Bonds Jr.

Department of Drama

Assistant Professor, Musical Theater

Rufus Bonds

Syracuse Stage/Department of Drama Theater Complex
820 East Genesee Street
Syracuse, NY 13210-1508



Rufus Bonds Jr. is an actor, director, and writer.

In London he performed the title role of Porgy in Porgy and Bess at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theater. Carnegie Hall welcomed him as the baritone soloist for Duke Ellington’s Sacred Music. His Broadway credits include Rent, Once on This Island, and Parade, for which he won the Drama Desk Nomination Best Supporting Actor. National tours include The Color Purple as Mister, Lion King as Mufasa, and Miss Saigon as John.  Directing projects include Lysistrata, Mamma Mia, Children of Eden, Tarzan, The Wiz, Into the Woods, The Wizard of Oz, and Shakespeare R&J.

Bonds is a Eugene O’Neill semifinalist for his play The Sisters of Rosewall High.

Education

  • M.F.A., California State University at Fullerton
  • B.S., University of Cincinnati