Henry Hodges bursts through the stage door at the New Amsterdam Theatre after a matinee performance of Broadway’s newest and biggest hit, Mary Poppins. He signs a few autographs and, skateboard underfoot, maneuvers his way through New York City gridlock, choosing a convenient cut-through between Broadway and Seventh Avenue that only a seasoned skateboarder would know about.
He seems like any other 14-year-old on his way to dinner at a burger place, but half an hour earlier, Bethesda-born Henry was Michael Banks, bowing to a standing-room-only audience. In this spectacular theatrical version of the classic Disney film, Henry shares the role of Michael Banks—one of the two children whose lives are changed by nanny Mary Poppins—performing six times a week to standing ovations. It’s a big role, and he loves it.
“I’ve liked all my jobs, but it’s nice to play Michael Banks,” Henry says. “He’s a little edgier than the other roles I’ve had, not quite as sweet.”
Before Mary Poppins, the child star played Jeremy Potts in a Broadway production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for nearly a year and was Chip in Beauty and the Beast, both on tour for seven months and on Broadway for two years. His first big stage role was in 2001 as Tiny Tim in a Ford’s Theatre production of A Christmas Carol. He was 8 when he landed the part and played the role for two years.
Now, after years of acting in the most exalted venues, Henry has become that strange mix of regular kid and consummate professional that you only find among child actors. For Henry, Bethesda is no longer home; the Broadway theater district is where he works and lives.
An Early Start
Henry’s acting career began at age 4, shortly after his mother dragged him to one of her doctor’s appointments. Articulate and chatty, Henry sat on his mother’s lap and she “trolled around asking people about managers and agents.” Eventually she contacted Suzie Young, then a talent manager based in Takoma Park. At the time, Young held open auditions once a year for aspiring child actors. Jane took Henry to the audition and he sang his ABCs.
She was astonished when, out of hundreds of kids, Young chose to represent Henry. “After that,” Jane says, “he got a head shot and started going out on auditions.
He liked the auditions—at first he thought they were the only thing, that there was no other goal, and he was perfectly happy with that.” She adds, “We were not anticipating this. We thought, ‘He likes to act, isn’t that fun?’ Henry led us in this direction. But if it hadn’t worked for all of us, we would have stopped.”
Within a couple of months, Henry started getting real acting work—and loved it. For the next few years, he attended Bethesda Community School, The Newport School in Silver Spring and Bethesda Elementary School while he worked regionally making commercials and industrial films (short training or in-house films for companies and nonprofits). By the time he answered an ad in The Washington Post to audition for A Christmas Carol, Henry had been working steadily for four years. While most kids recited poetry for their auditions, Henry sang a Burger King commercial—and got the part of Tiny Tim.
Trying out for Mary Poppins was a little more complicated. “I auditioned four times,” Henry recalls. “The first three times I sang and read a scene; the fourth time, they paired up all the Michaels and Janes and had us do scenes, then switched off the pairs to see who worked together best.”
Henry was not daunted by the audition—he never is. He also never gets stage fright.
“I started when I was four, so I’m used to it,” he explains. “Being on stage is energizing. If I’m tired, my energy level goes way up when I get on stage. Ten minutes after, it goes right back down!”
Between shows, Henry attends auditions, makes commercials and records voice-overs (including for Snow Buddies, a straight-to-DVD movie due out in February). He also takes countless lessons to improve his craft. “I’m incredibly busy,” he says. “I’m taking ballet, tap, point, gymnastics, music classes, voice classes. Pointe is my favorite.” Small and slight, with lively brown eyes and a big smile, Henry has an obvious zest for everything he does. Asked whether he feels he’s missing out on anything by choosing this career over a more typical childhood, Henry’s response is immediate: “No. I have a very good life. I love it. I think it’s perfect the way it is. I’m in this amazing show and I have an opportunity to work with such talented actors and learn from them all the time. I’m very lucky.”
“Henry is someone who rolls with punches,” says James Hodges, Henry’s father. Contrary to the stereotype of stage parents, the Hodges allow Henry’s enthusiasm for what he does to dictate his direction, rather than pushing him one way or another. Henry chooses what projects to take on and, according to his father, “as long as he’s enjoying himself, that’s what we’ve tried to focus on.”
Henry’s parents say their son’s flexibility is clearly a reason that this unconventional childhood has worked for him. His appearance has helped, too. He looks young for his age, which is why he is still able to play roles like 9-year-old Michael Banks. At 14, Henry has yet to hit puberty—and he says he’s in no hurry. “I get called in for lots of younger parts and I like the opportunity to act young,” he says.
Once puberty hits and his voice starts changing, Jane says, “it’s all over. There’s an emphasis on staying small and young—kids’ heights get measured, and Disney prepares kids by letting them know that though this won’t last forever, it’s OK, you want to grow. It’s bittersweet.”
