Joel Higgins
Central 1962
Joel Higgins is a 1962 graduate of Central High School and a graduate of Michigan State University. He currently lives in Dobbs Ferry, NY.
Joel is a long-time star of stage and screen and may be best known for his role as Edward Stratton III in the long-running NBC television series "Silver Spoons." Other television credits include starring roles in "Have Faith," "Best of the West" and "Search for Tomorrow."
He has guest-starred in series including "Home Improvement," "Jag" and "Crossing Jordan." He got his start when he and several friends wrote a musical called "The Green Apple Nasties," which Joel sold to a producer while he was waiting tables. The show went on the road for over two years. During the tour, Joel was asked by a producer to appear in a local production of "Guys and Dolls."
He appeared as Sky Masterson during a 17-week Midwest tour. In 1975 Joel won a Theatre World Award for his role as James in the Broadway version of "Shenandoah." Throughout his career, his roles have included Curly in "Oklahoma," Stone in "City of Angels," and Sebastian in "Music Is." He has appeared in eight productions at St. Louis" Muny Opera, including "The Music Man," "Showboat," "Damn Yankees," and "Kiss Me, Kate," and has appeared in venues across the county.
Joel most recently co-wrote the lyrics and music for and directed the premiere production of "Johnny Guitar, The Musical" at the Century Center Theater for the Performing Arts in New York. The production garnered four Drama Desk Award nominations, including Best Lyrics and Music and Best Musical, two Drama League Award nominations, two Lucille Lortel Award nominations and won the Outer Critics Circle Award as Best Off-Broadway Musical of the 2003-2004 season.
He has written or co-written over two hundred successful commercial jingles and several television theme songs, including jingles for Kool-Aid and M&Ms and the theme song for Lucille Ball"s comeback series "Life With Lucy."