[1] His most recent stage performance was in 2018 as the title role in the Off-Broadway production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

He began performing at the age of 13 and studied voice with Robert Grooters at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University.

[3] He made his West End debut in the original London company of Harold Prince's Show Boat as Ravenal, the role he played on Broadway and in Toronto.

In Los Angeles, Hugh played Franklin Shepard in Merrily We Roll Along and received an Ovation Award nomination for his performance as Kenneth in Call Me Madam, both for Reprise!.

[6] He has performed in a number of concerts and benefits, including 'An Evening With Hugh Panaro' at the University of Findlay in Ohio, The Leading Men II at the venerable Birdland Jazz Club, and Broadway For Medicine at City Center.

He starred as Jean Valjean in a new, non-replica production of Les Misérables at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre for which he received the 2008 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Actor In A Musical.

During this time, he reprised the role of Jean Valjean at The Muny in the St. Louis in their production of Les Misérables, alongside Norm Lewis as Javert.

Beginning August 29, he assumed the lead from Norm Lewis in the Off-Broadway production of Sweeney Todd at the Barrow Street Theater.