Jaden Nicita

           Jaden Nicita is a first-year at Yale University, double majoring in Theater and Performance Studies and Political Science.     A passionate performer, musician, and writer, he is dedicated to using theater as a means of storytelling and social advocacy. Whether through acting, music, or original works, he strives to create art that challenges, inspires, and unites audiences.

           Recent roles include The Phantom (Phantom of the Opera), Romeo (Romeo and Juliet), Nick Carraway (The Great Gatsby), Cinderella’s Prince/The Wolf (Into the Woods), Billy (Anything Goes), The Boy/Peter (Peter and the Starcatcher), and Ren (Footloose). This fall, he made his Yale theater debut as Cinderella’s Prince/The Wolf in Into the Woods, one of only three first-years cast in the main-stage production.

          Beyond performance, he is a creator in every sense. As a playwright, he has short plays and scenes that explore the intersections of politics, identity, and human resilience. His commitment to socially engaged theater deepened through his work with The Theater Project in Brunswick, ME, where he collaborated with Maine Holocaust survivors to bring their stories to the stage—an experience that reinforced his belief in the power of art to preserve history and empower communities.

          A dedicated musician, he is currently recording a solo album and sings and plays guitar in the indie-rock band Folk Orange, which will release its debut album this summer. In addition to guitar, he plays the saxophone and is a member of The Yale Alley Cats, Yale’s premier a cappella group, as well as the renowned Yale Glee Club, performing and touring internationally.

           His training includes the highly selective Boston Conservatory MTAI Program, where he studied with Laura Marie Duncan, and UCLA’s Camera Acting Institute, where he was one of just 12 students chosen nationwide. Other honors include performances with the Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall, NAfME All-National Honor Choir (2021, 2022), ACDA All-National Honor Choir (2023), Maine All-State (2021-2024), and ACDA All-Eastern (2022).

           At his core, Jaden is an artist driven by purpose—to tell stories that matter. He believes theater has the power to illuminate injustice, foster empathy, and ignite change. Through his work, he seeks to bridge the gap between art and activism, using performance as a platform to amplify the voices of those affected by political and social systems. He is especially passionate about shedding light on the struggles of rural communities impacted by addiction and poverty, using art to promote awareness, compassion, and meaningful dialogue. Whether on stage, in music, or in writing, he is committed to pushing creative boundaries and making a lasting impact through his art.