With a career spanning Broadway, off-Broadway, and television, James has been involved in the development of dozens of new works as an award-winning writer, singer, actor, director and producer.

James made his Broadway debut as a singer for Riverdance and has worked with outfits ranging from Sundance, to NY City Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar (as Pilate), the NY cast of Forbidden Broadway, and theater organizations including The O’Neill, Playwrights Horizons, New Dramatists, Houston TUTS, Goodspeed, and many more. Recent TV appearances include Succession, CBS’s The Good Fight and Madam Secretary.

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As a writer his television pilot Forsyth County has garnered nine different industry awards including Best TV Screenplay at the HollyShorts festival. He is also the book writer for Looking For Christmas with country music legend Clint Black which premiered at The Old Globe.

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As one half of Burwell & Sasser, their musicals include Bottle Shock! (based on the hit film), CUBAMOR, Le Comte Noir, and the new operetta By Georges! A Day in the Life of the Legendary Chevalier, the first ever new works commission by Lamplighters Music Theatre.

Recognitions include being a Jonathan Larson Award Finalist, The Frank Young Fund for New Musicals (NAMT), numerous other grants and residencies, and he was Uncharted Artist in Residence at Ars Nova.

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His voice can be heard in hundreds of commercials, dozens of audiobooks, and video games, where he’s likely a swashbuckling bodice ripper, drawling gunslinger, or quite often British. 

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As a producer with The 959 Group, their first outing won two Tony awards and was nominated for twelve with Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812, marking Josh Groban’s Broadway debut.